Job 21
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
Then Job answered, and said,
2 Audite quaeso sermones meos, et agite poenitentiam.
Hear diligently my speech, And let this be your consolations.
3 Sustinete me, et ego loquar, et post mea, si videbitur, verba ridete.
Allow me, and I also will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.
4 Numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est, ut merito non debeam contristari?
As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?
5 Attendite me, et obstupescite, et superponite digitum ori vestro:
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Et ego quando recordatus fuero, pertimesco, et concutit carnem meam tremor.
Even when I remember, I am troubled, and horror takes hold on my flesh.
7 Quare ergo impii vivunt, sublevati sunt, confortatique divitiis?
Why do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow mighty in power?
8 Semen eorum permanet coram eis, propinquorum turba, et nepotum in conspectu eorum.
Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Domus eorum securae sunt et pacatae, et non est virga Dei super illos.
Their houses are safe from fear, nor is the rod of God upon them.
10 Bos eorum concepit, et non abortivit: vacca peperit, et non est privata foetu suo.
Their bull breeds, and does not fail. Their cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
11 Egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum, et infantes eorum exultant lusibus.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 Tenent tympanum, et citharam, et gaudent ad sonitum organi.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment they go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 Qui dixerunt Deo: Recede a nobis, et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.
And they say to God, Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of thy ways.
15 Quis est Omnipotens, ut serviamus ei? et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum?
What is the Almighty that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray to him?
16 Verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua, consilium impiorum longe sit a me.
Lo, is their prosperity not in their hand. (The counsel of the wicked is far from me.)
17 Quoties lucerna impiorum extinguetur, et superveniet eis inundatio, et dolores dividet furoris sui?
How often is it that the lamp of the profane is put out, that their calamity comes upon them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger,
18 Erunt sicut paleae ante faciem venti, et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit.
that they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away?
19 Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris: et cum reddiderit, tunc sciet.
Ye say, God lays up his iniquity for his sons. Let him recompense it to himself that he may know it.
20 Videbunt oculi eius interfectionem suam, et de furore Omnipotentis bibet.
Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se? et si numerus mensium eius dimidietur?
For what does he care for his house after him when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Numquid Deus docebit quispiam scientiam, qui excelsos iudicat?
Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who are high?
23 Iste moritur robustus et sanus, dives et felix.
One man dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 Viscera eius plena sunt adipe, et medullis ossa illius irrigantur:
His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 Alius vero moritur in amaritudine animae absque ullis opibus:
And another man dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 Et tamen simul in pulvere dormient, et vermes operient eos.
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covers them.
27 Certe novi cogitationes vestras, et sententias contra me iniquas.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices with which ye would wrong me.
28 Dicitis enim: Ubi est domus principis? et ubi tabernacula impiorum?
For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent in which the wicked dwelt?
29 Interrogate quemlibet de viatoribus, et haec eadem illum intelligere cognoscetis:
Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,
30 Quia in diem perditionis servatur malus, et ad diem furoris ducetur.
that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
31 Quis arguet coram eo viam eius? et quae fecit, quis reddet illi?
Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he has done?
32 Ipse ad sepulchra ducetur, et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit.
Yet he shall be borne to the grave, and men shall keep watch over the tomb.
33 Dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti, et post se omnem hominem trahet, et ante se innumerabiles.
The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. And all men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 Quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra, cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati?
How then ye comfort me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
