Job 23

1 Respondens autem Iob, ait:

Then Job answered, and said:

2 Nunc quoque in amaritudine est sermo meus, et manus plagæ meæ aggravata est super gemitum meum.

Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge is more grievous than my mourning.

3 Quis mihi tribuat ut cognoscam et inveniam illum, et veniam usque ad solium eius?

Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and come even to his throne?

4 Ponam coram eo iudicium, et os meum replebo increpationibus.

I would set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with complaints.

5 Ut sciam verba, quæ mihi respondeat, et intelligam quid loquatur mihi.

That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

6 Nolo multa fortitudine contendat mecum, nec magnitudinis suæ mole me premat.

I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, nor overwhelm me with the weight of his greatness.

7 Proponat æquitatem contra me, et perveniat ad victoriam iudicium meum.

Let him propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to victory.

8 Si ad Orientem iero, non apparet: si ad Occidentem, non intelligam eum.

But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I shall not understand him.

9 Si ad sinistram, quid agam? non apprehendam eum: si me vertam ad dexteram, non videbo illum.

If to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall not see him.

10 Ipse vero scit viam meam, et probavit me quasi aurum, quod per ignem transit:

But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire:

11 Vestigia eius secutus est pes meus, viam eius custodivi, et non declinavi ex ea.

My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have not declined from it.

12 A mandatis labiorum eius non recessi, et in sinu meo abscondi verba oris eius.

I have not departed from the commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom.

13 Ipse enim solus est, et nemo avertere potest cogitationem eius: et anima eius quodcumque voluit, hoc fecit.

For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever is soul hath desired, that hath he done.

14 Cum expleverit in me voluntatem suam, et alia multa similia præsto sunt ei.

And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him.

15 Et idcirco a facie eius turbatus sum, et considerans eum, timore sollicitor.

And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him I am made pensive with fear.

16 Deus mollivit cor meum, et Omnipotens conturbavit me.

God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me.

17 Non enim perii propter imminentes tenebras, nec faciem meam operuit caligo.

For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face.