Job 21
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Audite quaeso sermones meos, et agite poenitentiam.
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 Sustinete me, et ego loquar, et post mea, si videbitur, verba ridete.
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 Numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est, ut merito non debeam contristari?
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Attendite me, et obstupescite, et superponite digitum ori vestro:
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Et ego quando recordatus fuero, pertimesco, et concutit carnem meam tremor.
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
7 Quare ergo impii vivunt, sublevati sunt, confortatique divitiis?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
8 Semen eorum permanet coram eis, propinquorum turba, et nepotum in conspectu eorum.
Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
9 Domus eorum securae sunt et pacatae, et non est virga Dei super illos.
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 Bos eorum concepit, et non abortivit: vacca peperit, et non est privata foetu suo.
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
11 Egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum, et infantes eorum exultant lusibus.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
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 wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
14 Qui dixerunt Deo: Recede a nobis, et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
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 shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 Verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua, consilium impiorum longe sit a me.
Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
17 Quoties lucerna impiorum extinguetur, et superveniet eis inundatio, et dolores dividet furoris sui?
How often is the lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
18 Erunt sicut paleae ante faciem venti, et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit.
Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
19 Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris: et cum reddiderit, tunc sciet.
Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
20 Videbunt oculi eius interfectionem suam, et de furore Omnipotentis bibet.
His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
21 Quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se? et si numerus mensium eius dimidietur?
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 Numquid Deus docebit quispiam scientiam, qui excelsos iudicat?
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 Iste moritur robustus et sanus, dives et felix.
That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 Viscera eius plena sunt adipe, et medullis ossa illius irrigantur:
His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 Alius vero moritur in amaritudine animae absque ullis opibus:
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 Et tamen simul in pulvere dormient, et vermes operient eos.
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 Certe novi cogitationes vestras, et sententias contra me iniquas.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
28 Dicitis enim: Ubi est domus principis? et ubi tabernacula impiorum?
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
29 Interrogate quemlibet de viatoribus, et haec eadem illum intelligere cognoscetis:
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
30 Quia in diem perditionis servatur malus, et ad diem furoris ducetur.
That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
31 Quis arguet coram eo viam eius? et quae fecit, quis reddet illi?
[But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
32 Ipse ad sepulchra ducetur, et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit.
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
33 Dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti, et post se omnem hominem trahet, et ante se innumerabiles.
Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
34 Quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra, cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati?
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
