Job 21
1 respondens autem Iob dixit
Then Job answered,
2 audite quaeso sermones meos et agetis paenitentiam
"Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 sustinete me ut et ego loquar et post mea si videbitur verba ridete
Allow me, and I also will speak; 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? Why shouldn't I be impatient?
5 adtendite me et obstupescite et superponite digitum ori vestro
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6 et ego quando recordatus fuero pertimesco et concutit carnem meam tremor
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 quare ergo impii vivunt sublevati sunt confortatique divitiis
"Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 semen eorum permanet coram eis propinquorum turba et nepotum in conspectu eorum
Their child is established with them in their sight, 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, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 bos eorum concepit et non abortit vacca peperit et non est privata fetu suo
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and do not miscarry.
11 egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum et infantes eorum exultant lusibus
They send forth their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
12 tenent tympanum et citharam et gaudent ad sonitum organi
They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 qui dixerunt Deo recede a nobis et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus
They tell God, 'Depart from us, for we do not want to know about your ways.
15 quid est Omnipotens ut serviamus ei et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum
What is Shaddai, that we should serve him? 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
Look, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 quotiens lucerna impiorum extinguetur et superveniet eis inundatio et dolores dividet furoris sui
"How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that he distributes sorrows in his anger?
18 erunt sicut paleae ante faciem venti et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
19 Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris et cum reddiderit tunc sciet
You say, 'God lays up his iniquity for his children.' 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. Let him drink of the wrath of Shaddai.
21 quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se et si numerus mensuum eius dimidietur
For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 numquid Deum quispiam docebit 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 dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 viscera eius plena sunt adipe et medullis ossa illius inrigantur
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 alius vero moritur in amaritudine animae absque ullis opibus
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 et tamen simul in pulverem dormient et vermes operient eos
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 certe novi cogitationes vestras et sententias contra me iniquas
"Look, I know your thoughts, the devices with which you would wrong me.
28 dicitis enim ubi est domus principis et ubi tabernacula impiorum
For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'
29 interrogate quemlibet de viatoribus et haec eadem eum intellegere cognoscetis
Haven't you asked wayfaring men? Do you not know their evidences,
30 quia in diem perditionis servabitur malus et ad diem furoris ducitur
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? Who shall repay him what he has done?
32 ipse ad sepulchra ducetur et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit
Yet he will be borne to the grave. 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. 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
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, seeing that in your answers there remains only falsehood?"
