Job 21
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
Then responded Job, and said: —
2 Audite quæso sermones meos, et agite pœnitentiam.
Hear ye patiently my words, and let this be your consolation:
3 Sustinete me, et ego loquar, et post mea, si videbitur, verba ridete.
Suffer me, that, I, may speak, and, after I have spoken, thou canst mock!
4 Numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est, ut merito non debeam contristari?
Did, I, unto man, make my complaint? Wherefore, then, should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Attendite me, et obstupescite, et superponite digitum ori vestro:
Turn round to me, and be astonished, and lay hand on mouth!
6 Et ego quando recordatus fuero, pertimesco, et concutit carnem meam tremor.
When I call to mind, then am I dismayed, and there seizeth my flesh a shuddering: —
7 Quare ergo impii vivunt, sublevati sunt, confortatique divitiis?
Wherefore do, lawless men, live, advance in years, even wax mighty in power?
8 Semen eorum permanet coram eis, propinquorum turba, et nepotum in conspectu eorum.
Their seed, is established in their sight, along with them, yea their offspring, before their eyes;
9 Domus eorum securæ sunt et pacatæ, et non est virga Dei super illos.
Their houses, are at peace, without dread, neither is, the rod of GOD, upon them;
10 Bos eorum concepit, et non abortivit: vacca peperit, et non est privata fœtu suo.
His bull, covereth, and causeth not aversion, His cow safely calveth, and casteth not her young;
11 Egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum, et infantes eorum exultant lusibus.
They send forth—like a flock—their young ones, and, their children, skip about for joy;
12 Tenent tympanum, et citharam, et gaudent ad sonitum organi.
They rejoice aloud as [with] timbrel and lyre, and make merry to the sound of the pipe;
They complete, in prosperity, their days, and, in a moment to hades, they sink down. (Sheol h7585)
14 Qui dixerunt Deo: Recede a nobis, et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.
Yet they said unto GOD, Depart from us, and, In the knowledge of thy ways, find we no pleasure.
15 Quis est Omnipotens, ut serviamus ei? et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? Or what shall we profit, that we should urge him?
16 Verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua, consilium impiorum longe sit a me.
Lo! not in their own hand, is their welfare, The counsel of lawless men, is far from me!
17 Quoties lucerna impiorum extinguetur, et superveniet eis inundatio, et dolores dividet furoris sui?
How oft, the lamp of the lawless, goeth out, and their calamity, cometh upon them, Sorrows, apportioneth he in his anger;
18 Erunt sicut paleæ ante faciem venti, et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit.
They become as straw before the wind, and as chaff, which the storm stealeth away.
19 Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris: et cum reddiderit, tunc sciet.
Shall, GOD, reserve, for his children, his sorrow? Let him recompense him so that he may know it;
20 Videbunt oculi eius interfectionem suam, et de furore Omnipotentis bibet.
His own eyes, shall see his misfortune, and, the wrath of the Almighty, shall he drink.
21 Quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se? et si numerus mensium eius dimidietur?
For what shall be his pleasure in his house after him, when, the number of his months, is cut in twain?
22 Numquid Deus docebit quispiam scientiam, qui excelsos iudicat?
Is it, to GOD, one can teach knowledge, seeing that, he, shall judge, them who are on high?
23 Iste moritur robustus et sanus, dives et felix.
This, man dieth, in the very perfection of his prosperity, wholly tranquil and secure;
24 Viscera eius plena sunt adipe, et medullis ossa illius irrigantur:
His veins, are filled with nourishment, and, the marrow of his bones, is fresh;
25 Alius vero moritur in amaritudine animæ absque ullis opibus:
Whereas, this other man, dieth, in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted good fortune:
26 Et tamen simul in pulvere dormient, et vermes operient eos.
Together, in the dust, they lie down, and, the worm, spreadeth a covering over them.
27 Certe novi cogitationes vestras, et sententias contra me iniquas.
Lo! I know your plans, and the devices, wherewith ye would do me violence!
28 Dicitis enim: Ubi est domus principis? et ubi tabernacula impiorum?
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? And where the dwelling-tent of the lawless?
29 Interrogate quemlibet de viatoribus, et hæc eadem illum intelligere cognoscetis:
Have ye not asked the passers-by in the way? And, their signs, can ye not recognise?
30 Quia in diem perditionis servatur malus, et ad diem furoris ducetur.
That, to the day of calamity, is the wicked reserved, to the day of indignant visitation, are they led.
31 Quis arguet coram eo viam eius? et quæ fecit, quis reddet illi?
Who can declare—to his face—his way? And, what, he, hath done, who shall recompense to him?
32 Ipse ad sepulchra ducetur, et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit.
Yet, he, to the graves, is borne, and, over the tomb, one keepeth watch;
33 Dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti, et post se omnem hominem trahet, et ante se innumerabiles.
Pleasant to him are the mounds of the torrent-bed, —and, after him, doth every man march, as, before him, there were without number.
34 Quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra, cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati?
How then should ye comfort me with vanity, since, as for your replies, there lurketh, [in them] treachery?
