Job 16
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
Then Job answered, and said,
2 Audivi frequenter talia, consolatores onerosi omnes vos estis.
I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Numquid habebunt finem verba ventosa? aut aliquid tibi molestum est si loquaris?
Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes thee that thou answer?
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 could speak as ye do, if your soul were in my soul's stead. I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.
5 Roborarem vos ore meo: et moverem labia mea, quasi parcens vobis.
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.
6 Sed quid agam? Si locutus fuero, non quiescet dolor meus: et si tacuero, non recedet a me.
Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged, and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 Nunc autem oppressit me dolor meus, et in nihilum redacti sunt omnes artus mei.
But now he has made me weary. Thou have made desolate all my company.
8 Rugae meae testimonium dicunt contra me, et suscitatur falsiloquus adversus faciem meam contradicens mihi.
And thou have laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me. And my leanness rises up against me; it testifies to my face.
9 Collegit furorem suum in me, et comminans mihi, infremuit contra me dentibus suis: hostis meus terribilibus oculis me intuitus est.
He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed upon me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes upon me.
10 Aperuerunt super me ora sua, et exprobrantes percusserunt maxillam meam, satiati sunt poenis meis.
They have gaped upon me with their mouth. They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
11 Conclusit me Deus apud iniquum, et manibus impiorum me tradidit.
God delivers me to the perverse, and casts 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, and he broke me apart. Yea, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also 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 round about. He splits my reins apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall upon the ground.
14 Concidit me vulnere super vulnus, irruit in me quasi gigas.
He breaks me with breach upon breach. He runs upon me like a giant.
15 Saccum consui super cutem meam, et operui cinere carnem meam.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.
16 Facies mea intumuit a fletu, et palpebrae meae caligaverunt.
My face is red with weeping, and the shadow of death is on my eyelids,
17 Haec passus sum absque iniquitate manus meae, cum haberem mundas ad Deum preces.
although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 Terra ne operias sanguinem meum, neque inveniat in te locum latendi clamor meus.
O earth, do not cover thou my blood, and let my cry have no resting place.
19 Ecce enim in caelo testis meus, et conscius meus in excelsis.
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who vouches for me is on high.
20 Verbosi amici mei: ad Deum stillat oculus meus.
My friends scoff at me. My eye pours out tears to God
21 Atque utinam sic iudicaretur vir cum Deo, quomodo iudicatur filius hominis cum collega suo.
that he would maintain the right of a man with God, and of a son of man with his neighbor!
22 Ecce enim breves anni transeunt, et semitam, per quam non revertar, ambulo.
For when a few years are come, I shall go the way where I shall not return.
