Job 33
1 Audi igitur, Job, eloquia mea, et omnes sermones meos ausculta.
“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
2 Ecce aperui os meum: loquatur lingua mea in faucibus meis.
See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 Simplici corde meo sermones mei, et sententiam puram labia mea loquentur.
My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
4 Spiritus Dei fecit me, et spiraculum Omnipotentis vivificavit me.
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 Si potes, responde mihi, et adversus faciem meam consiste.
If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.
6 Ecce, et me sicut et te fecit Deus, et de eodem luto ego quoque formatus sum.
Behold, I am towards God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
7 Verumtamen miraculum meum non te terreat, et eloquentia mea non sit tibi gravis.
Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
8 Dixisti ergo in auribus meis, et vocem verborum tuorum audivi:
“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9 Mundus sum ego, et absque delicto: immaculatus, et non est iniquitas in me.
‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Quia querelas in me reperit, ideo arbitratus est me inimicum sibi.
Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
11 Posuit in nervo pedes meos; custodivit omnes semitas meas.
He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’
12 Hoc est ergo in quo non es justificatus: respondebo tibi, quia major sit Deus homine.
“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
13 Adversus eum contendis, quod non ad omnia verba responderit tibi?
Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?
14 Semel loquitur Deus, et secundo idipsum non repetit.
For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
15 Per somnium, in visione nocturna, quando irruit sopor super homines, et dormiunt in lectulo,
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,
16 tunc aperit aures virorum, et erudiens eos instruit disciplina,
then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
17 ut avertat hominem ab his quæ facit, et liberet eum de superbia,
that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 eruens animam ejus a corruptione, et vitam illius ut non transeat in gladium.
He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 Increpat quoque per dolorem in lectulo, et omnia ossa ejus marcescere facit.
“He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,
20 Abominabilis ei fit in vita sua panis, et animæ illius cibus ante desiderabilis.
so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
21 Tabescet caro ejus, et ossa, quæ tecta fuerant, nudabuntur.
His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Appropinquavit corruptioni anima ejus, et vita illius mortiferis.
Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23 Si fuerit pro eo angelus loquens, unus de millibus, ut annuntiet hominis æquitatem,
“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one amongst a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,
24 miserebitur ejus, et dicet: Libera eum, ut non descendat in corruptionem: inveni in quo ei propitier.
then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’
25 Consumpta est caro ejus a suppliciis: revertatur ad dies adolescentiæ suæ.
His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.
26 Deprecabitur Deum, et placabilis ei erit: et videbit faciem ejus in jubilo, et reddet homini justitiam suam.
He prays to God, and he is favourable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.
27 Respiciet homines, et dicet: Peccavi, et vere deliqui, et ut eram dignus, non recepi.
He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.
28 Liberavit animam suam, ne pergeret in interitum, sed vivens lucem videret.
He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
29 Ecce hæc omnia operatur Deus tribus vicibus per singulos,
“Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
30 ut revocet animas eorum a corruptione, et illuminet luce viventium.
to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Attende, Job, et audi me: et tace, dum ego loquor.
Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 Si autem habes quod loquaris, responde mihi: loquere, volo enim te apparere justum.
If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 Quod si non habes, audi me: tace, et docebo te sapientiam.
If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
