Job 21
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
And Job answers and says:
2 Audite quaeso sermones meos, et agite poenitentiam.
“Hear my word diligently, And this is your consolation.
3 Sustinete me, et ego loquar, et post mea, si videbitur, verba ridete.
Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking—you may deride.
4 Numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est, ut merito non debeam contristari?
[Is] my complaint [against] man? And if [so], why may my temper not become short?
5 Attendite me, et obstupescite, et superponite digitum ori vestro:
Turn to me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
6 Et ego quando recordatus fuero, pertimesco, et concutit carnem meam tremor.
Indeed, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh has taken fright.
7 Quare ergo impii vivunt, sublevati sunt, confortatique divitiis?
Why do the wicked live? They have become old, Indeed, they have been mighty in wealth.
8 Semen eorum permanet coram eis, propinquorum turba, et nepotum in conspectu eorum.
Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
9 Domus eorum securae sunt et pacatae, et non est virga Dei super illos.
Their houses [are] peace without fear, Nor [is] a rod of God on them.
10 Bos eorum concepit, et non abortivit: vacca peperit, et non est privata foetu suo.
His bullock breeds without fail. His cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
11 Egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum, et infantes eorum exultant lusibus.
They send forth their sucklings as a flock, And their children skip,
12 Tenent tympanum, et citharam, et gaudent ad sonitum organi.
They lift [themselves] up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of a pipe.
They wear out their days in good, And in a moment go down [to] Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 Qui dixerunt Deo: Recede a nobis, et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.
And they say to God, Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Your ways We have not desired.
15 Quis est Omnipotens, ut serviamus ei? et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum?
What [is] the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?
16 Verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua, consilium impiorum longe sit a me.
Behold, their good [is] not in their hand (The counsel of the wicked Has been 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 extinguished, And their calamity comes on them? He apportions pangs in His anger.
18 Erunt sicut paleae ante faciem venti, et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit.
They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a windstorm has stolen away,
19 Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris: et cum reddiderit, tunc sciet.
God lays up for his sons his sorrow, He gives repayment to him—and he knows.
20 Videbunt oculi eius interfectionem suam, et de furore Omnipotentis bibet.
His own eyes see his destruction, And he drinks of the wrath of the Mighty.
21 Quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se? et si numerus mensium eius dimidietur?
For what [is] his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
22 Numquid Deus docebit quispiam scientiam, qui excelsos iudicat?
Does [one] teach knowledge to God, Since He judges [those] on high?
23 Iste moritur robustus et sanus, dives et felix.
This [one] dies in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
24 Viscera eius plena sunt adipe, et medullis ossa illius irrigantur:
His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow moistens his bones.
25 Alius vero moritur in amaritudine animae absque ullis opibus:
And this [one] dies with a bitter soul, And has not eaten with gladness.
26 Et tamen simul in pulvere dormient, et vermes operient eos.
Together they lie down on the dust, And the worm covers them over.
27 Certe novi cogitationes vestras, et sententias contra me iniquas.
Behold, I have known your thoughts, And the schemes against me you do wrongfully.
28 Dicitis enim: Ubi est domus principis? et ubi tabernacula impiorum?
For you say, Where [is] the house of the noble? And where the tent—the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Interrogate quemlibet de viatoribus, et haec eadem illum intelligere cognoscetis:
Have you not asked those passing by the way? And do you not know their signs?
30 Quia in diem perditionis servatur malus, et ad diem furoris ducetur.
That the wicked is spared to a day of calamity. They are brought to a day of wrath.
31 Quis arguet coram eo viam eius? et quae fecit, quis reddet illi?
Who declares his way to his face? And [for] that which he has done, Who gives repayment to him?
32 Ipse ad sepulchra ducetur, et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit.
And he is brought to the graves, And a watch is kept over the heap.
33 Dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti, et post se omnem hominem trahet, et ante se innumerabiles.
The clods of the valley have been sweet to him, And he draws every man after him, And there is no numbering before him.
34 Quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra, cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati?
And how do you comfort me [with] vanity, And trespass has been left in your answers?”
