Job 11
1 Respondens autem Sophar Naamathites, dixit:
But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said:
2 Numquid qui multa loquitur, non et audiet? aut vir verbosus justificabitur?
Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?
3 Tibi soli tacebunt homines? et cum ceteros irriseris, a nullo confutaberis?
Will men be silent only for you? And when you have mocked others, will no one refute you?
4 Dixisti enim: Purus est sermo meus, et mundus sum in conspectu tuo.
For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”
5 Atque utinam Deus loqueretur tecum, et aperiret labia sua tibi,
Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to you,
6 ut ostenderet tibi secreta sapientiæ, et quod multiplex esset lex ejus: et intelligeres quod multo minora exigaris ab eo quam meretur iniquitas tua!
so that he might reveal to you the secrets of wisdom, and how intricate his law is, and that you would understand how much less he requires of you than your iniquity deserves.
7 Forsitan vestigia Dei comprehendes, et usque ad perfectum Omnipotentem reperies?
By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?
He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know? (Sheol h7585)
9 Longior terra mensura ejus, et latior mari.
His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
10 Si subverterit omnia, vel in unum coarctaverit, quis contradicet ei?
If he overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?
11 Ipse enim novit hominum vanitatem; et videns iniquitatem, nonne considerat?
For he knows the vanity of men, and when he sees iniquity, does he not evaluate it?
12 Vir vanus in superbiam erigitur, et tamquam pullum onagri se liberum natum putat.
A vain man is lifted up in arrogance, and he thinks that he is born free like a wild ass’s colt.
13 Tu autem firmasti cor tuum, et expandisti ad eum manus tuas.
But you have fortified your heart and extended your hands to him.
14 Si iniquitatem quæ est in manu tua abstuleris a te, et non manserit in tabernaculo tuo injustitia,
If you would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,
15 tunc levare poteris faciem tuam absque macula; et eris stabilis, et non timebis.
then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.
16 Miseriæ quoque oblivisceris, et quasi aquarum quæ præterierunt recordaberis.
Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.
17 Et quasi meridianus fulgor consurget tibi ad vesperam; et cum te consumptum putaveris, orieris ut lucifer.
And brightness, like that of midday, will rise upon you until evening, and when you would think yourself consumed, you will rise up like the morning star.
18 Et habebis fiduciam, proposita tibi spe: et defossus securus dormies.
And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.
19 Requiesces, et non erit qui te exterreat; et deprecabuntur faciem tuam plurimi.
You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.
20 Oculi autem impiorum deficient, et effugium peribit ab eis: et spes illorum abominatio animæ.
But the eyes of the impious will fade away, and the path to escape will perish before them, for the abomination of the soul is their hope.
