Job 15
1 respondens autem Eliphaz Themanites dixit
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2 numquid sapiens respondebit quasi in ventum loquens et implebit ardore stomachum suum
“Should a wise man answer with vain knowledge, and fill himself with the east wind?
3 arguis verbis eum qui non est aequalis tui et loqueris quod tibi non expedit
Should he reason with unprofitable talk, or with speeches with which he can do no good?
4 quantum in te est evacuasti timorem et tulisti preces coram Deo
Yes, you do away with fear, and hinder devotion before God.
5 docuit enim iniquitas tua os tuum et imitaris linguam blasphemantium
For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.
6 condemnabit te os tuum et non ego et labia tua respondebunt tibi
Your own mouth condemns you, and not I. Yes, your own lips testify against you.
7 numquid primus homo tu natus es et ante colles formatus
“Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought out before the hills?
8 numquid consilium Dei audisti et inferior te erit eius sapientia
Have you heard the secret counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
9 quid nosti quod ignoremus quid intellegis quod nesciamus
What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand which is not in us?
10 et senes et antiqui sunt in nobis multo vetustiores quam patres tui
With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, much older than your father.
11 numquid grande est ut consoletur te Deus sed verba tua prava hoc prohibent
Are the consolations of God too small for you, even the word that is gentle toward you?
12 quid te elevat cor tuum et quasi magna cogitans adtonitos habes oculos
Why does your heart carry you away? Why do your eyes flash,
13 quid tumet contra Deum spiritus tuus ut proferas de ore huiuscemodi sermones
that you turn your spirit against God, and let such words go out of your mouth?
14 quid est homo ut inmaculatus sit et ut iustus appareat natus de muliere
What is man, that he should be clean? What is he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
15 ecce inter sanctos eius nemo inmutabilis et caeli non sunt mundi in conspectu eius
Behold, he puts no trust in his holy ones. Yes, the heavens are not clean in his sight;
16 quanto magis abominabilis et inutilis homo qui bibit quasi aquas iniquitatem
how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks iniquity like water!
17 ostendam tibi audi me quod vidi narrabo tibi
“I will show you, listen to me; that which I have seen I will declare
18 sapientes confitentur et non abscondunt patres suos
(which wise men have told by their fathers, and have not hidden it;
19 quibus solis data est terra et non transibit alienus per eos
to whom alone the land was given, and no stranger passed among them):
20 cunctis diebus suis impius superbit et numerus annorum incertus est tyrannidis eius
the wicked man writhes in pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.
21 sonitus terroris semper in auribus illius et cum pax sit ille insidias suspicatur
A sound of terrors is in his ears. In prosperity the destroyer will come on him.
22 non credit quod reverti possit de tenebris circumspectans undique gladium
He does not believe that he will return out of darkness. He is waited for by the sword.
23 cum se moverit ad quaerendum panem novit quod paratus sit in manu eius tenebrarum dies
He wanders abroad for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 terrebit eum tribulatio et angustia vallabit eum sicut regem qui praeparatur ad proelium
Distress and anguish make him afraid. They prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.
25 tetendit enim adversus Deum manum suam et contra Omnipotentem roboratus est
Because he has stretched out his hand against God, and behaves himself proudly against the Almighty,
26 cucurrit adversus eum erecto collo et pingui cervice armatus est
he runs at him with a stiff neck, with the thick shields of his bucklers,
27 operuit faciem eius crassitudo et de lateribus eius arvina dependet
because he has covered his face with his fatness, and gathered fat on his thighs.
28 habitavit in civitatibus desolatis et in domibus desertis quae in tumulos sunt redactae
He has lived in desolate cities, in houses which no one inhabited, which were ready to become heaps.
29 non ditabitur nec perseverabit substantia eius nec mittet in terra radicem suam
He will not be rich, neither will his substance continue, neither will their possessions be extended on the earth.
30 non recedet de tenebris ramos eius arefaciet flamma et auferetur spiritu oris sui
He will not depart out of darkness. The flame will dry up his branches. He will go away by the breath of God’s mouth.
31 non credat frustra errore deceptus quod aliquo pretio redimendus sit
Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his reward.
32 antequam dies eius impleantur peribit et manus eius arescet
It will be accomplished before his time. His branch will not be green.
33 laedetur quasi vinea in primo flore botrus eius et quasi oliva proiciens florem suum
He will shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and will cast off his flower as the olive tree.
34 congregatio enim hypocritae sterilis et ignis devorabit tabernacula eorum qui munera libenter accipiunt
For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.
35 concepit dolorem et peperit iniquitatem et uterus eius praeparat dolos
They conceive mischief and produce iniquity. Their heart prepares deceit.”
