Job 16
1 Respondens autem Job, dixit:
But Job answered and said:
2 Audivi frequenter talia: consolatores onerosi omnes vos estis.
Of such things as these I have heard enough! Miserable comforters are ye all!
3 Numquid habebunt finem verba ventosa? aut aliquid tibi molestum est, si loquaris?
Will there ever be an end to words of wind? What stirreth thee up, that thou answerest?
4 Poteram et ego similia vestri loqui, atque utinam esset anima vestra pro anima mea: consolarer et ego vos sermonibus, et moverem caput meum super vos;
I also might speak like you, If ye were now in my place; I might string together words against you, And shake my head at you.
5 roborarem vos ore meo, et moverem labia mea, quasi parcens vobis.
I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the consolation of my lips should sustain you.
6 Sed quid agam? Si locutus fuero, non quiescet dolor meus, et si tacuero, non recedet a me.
If I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And if I forbear, it doth not leave me.
7 Nunc autem oppressit me dolor meus, et in nihilum redacti sunt omnes artus mei.
For now He hath quite exhausted me; Thou hast desolated all my house!
8 Rugæ meæ testimonium dicunt contra me, et suscitatur falsiloquus adversus faciem meam, contradicens mihi.
Thou hast seized hold of me, and this is a witness against me; My leanness riseth up and testifieth against me to my face.
9 Collegit furorem suum in me, et comminans mihi, infremuit contra me dentibus suis: hostis meus terribilibus oculis me intuitus est.
His anger teareth my flesh, and pursueth me; He gnasheth upon me with his teeth; My adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10 Aperuerunt super me ora sua, et exprobrantes percusserunt maxillam meam: satiati sunt pœnis meis.
They gape for me with their mouths; In scorn they smite me on the cheek; With one consent they assemble against me.
11 Conclusit me Deus apud iniquum, et manibus impiorum me tradidit.
God hath given me a prey to the unrighteous, And delivered me into the hands of the wicked.
12 Ego ille quondam opulentus, repente contritus sum: tenuit cervicem meam, confregit me, et posuit me sibi quasi in signum.
I was at ease, but he hath crushed me; He hath seized me by the neck, and dashed me in pieces; He hath set me up for his mark.
13 Circumdedit me lanceis suis; convulneravit lumbos meos: non pepercit, et effudit in terra viscera mea.
His archers encompass me around; He pierceth my reins, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 Concidit me vulnere super vulnus: irruit in me quasi gigas.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He rusheth upon me like a warrior.
15 Saccum consui super cutem meam, et operui cinere carnem meam.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And thrust my horn into the dust.
16 Facies mea intumuit a fletu, et palpebræ meæ caligaverunt.
My face is red with weeping, And upon my eyelids is deathlike darkness.
17 Hæc passus sum absque iniquitate manus meæ, cum haberem mundas ad Deum preces.
Yet is there no injustice in my bands. And my prayer hath been pure.
18 Terra, ne operias sanguinem meum, neque inveniat in te locum latendi clamor meus:
O earth! cover not thou my blood, And let there be no hiding-place for my cry!
19 ecce enim in cælo testis meus, et conscius meus in excelsis.
Yet even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he who knoweth me is on high.
20 Verbosi amici mei: ad Deum stillat oculus meus:
My friends have me in derision, But my eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 atque utinam sic judicaretur vir cum Deo, quomodo judicatur filius hominis cum collega suo.
O that one might contend for a man with God, As a man contendeth with his neighbor!
22 Ecce enim breves anni transeunt, et semitam per quam non revertar ambulo.
For when a few years shall have passed, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
