Job 21
1 respondens autem Iob dixit
And Job answers and says:
2 audite quaeso sermones meos et agetis paenitentiam
“Hear my word diligently, And this is your consolation.
3 sustinete me ut 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 adtendite 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 abortit vacca peperit et non est privata fetu 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 quid 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 quotiens 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 mensuum eius dimidietur
For what [is] his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
22 numquid Deum quispiam docebit 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 inrigantur
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 pulverem 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 eum intellegere cognoscetis
Have you not asked those passing by the way? And do you not know their signs?
30 quia in diem perditionis servabitur malus et ad diem furoris ducitur
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?”
