Job 4
1 Respondens autem Eliphaz Themanites, dixit:
And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: —
2 Si cœperimus loqui tibi, forsitan moleste accipies; sed conceptum sermonem tenere quis poterit?
Hath one tried a word with thee? — Thou art weary! And to keep in words who is able?
3 Ecce docuisti multos, et manus lassas roborasti;
Lo, thou hast instructed many, And feeble hands thou makest strong.
4 vacillantes confirmaverunt sermones tui, et genua trementia confortasti.
The stumbling one do thy words raise up, And bowing knees thou dost strengthen.
5 Nunc autem venit super te plaga, et defecisti; tetigit te, et conturbatus es.
But now, it cometh in unto thee, And thou art weary; It striketh unto thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Ubi est timor tuus, fortitudo tua, patientia tua, et perfectio viarum tuarum?
Is not thy reverence thy confidence? Thy hope — the perfection of thy ways?
7 Recordare, obsecro te, quis umquam innocens periit? aut quando recti deleti sunt?
Remember, I pray thee, Who, being innocent, hath perished? And where have the upright been cut off?
8 Quin potius vidi eos qui operantur iniquitatem, et seminant dolores, et metunt eos,
As I have seen — ploughers of iniquity, And sowers of misery, reap it!
9 flante Deo perisse, et spiritu iræ ejus esse consumptos.
From the breath of God they perish, And from the spirit of His anger consumed.
10 Rugitus leonis, et vox leænæ, et dentes catulorum leonum contriti sunt.
The roaring of a lion, And the voice of a fierce lion, And teeth of young lions have been broken.
11 Tigris periit, eo quod non haberet prædam, et catuli leonis dissipati sunt.
An old lion is perishing without prey, And the whelps of the lioness do separate.
12 Porro ad me dictum est verbum absconditum, et quasi furtive suscepit auris mea venas susurri ejus.
And unto me a thing is secretly brought, And receive doth mine ear a little of it.
13 In horrore visionis nocturnæ, quando solet sopor occupare homines,
In thoughts from visions of the night, In the falling of deep sleep on men,
14 pavor tenuit me, et tremor, et omnia ossa mea perterrita sunt;
Fear hath met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear.
15 et cum spiritus, me præsente, transiret, inhorruerunt pili carnis meæ.
And a spirit before my face doth pass, Stand up doth the hair of my flesh;
16 Stetit quidam, cujus non agnoscebam vultum, imago coram oculis meis, et vocem quasi auræ lenis audivi.
It standeth, and I discern not its aspect, A similitude [is] over-against mine eyes, Silence! and a voice I hear:
17 Numquid homo, Dei comparatione, justificabitur? aut factore suo purior erit vir?
'Is mortal man than God more righteous? Than his Maker is a man cleaner?
18 Ecce qui serviunt ei, non sunt stabiles, et in angelis suis reperit pravitatem;
Lo, in His servants He putteth no credence, Nor in His messengers setteth praise.'
19 quanto magis hi qui habitant domos luteas, qui terrenum habent fundamentum, consumentur velut a tinea?
Also — the inhabitants of houses of clay, (Whose foundation [is] in the dust, They bruise them before a moth.)
20 De mane usque ad vesperam succidentur; et quia nullus intelligit, in æternum peribunt.
From morning to evening are beaten down, Without any regarding, for ever they perish.
21 Qui autem reliqui fuerint, auferentur ex eis; morientur, et non in sapientia.
Hath not their excellency been removed with them? They die, and not in wisdom!
