Job 21
1 respondens autem Iob dixit
But Job answered and said:
2 audite quaeso sermones meos et agetis paenitentiam
Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
3 sustinete me ut et ego loquar et post mea si videbitur verba ridete
Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
4 numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est ut merito non debeam contristari
Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
5 adtendite me et obstupescite et superponite digitum ori vestro
Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
6 et ego quando recordatus fuero pertimesco et concutit carnem meam tremor
When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 quare ergo impii vivunt sublevati sunt confortatique divitiis
Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
8 semen eorum permanet coram eis propinquorum turba et nepotum in conspectu eorum
Their children are established in their sight 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 in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not upon them.
10 bos eorum concepit et non abortit vacca peperit et non est privata fetu suo
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum et infantes eorum exultant lusibus
They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
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 spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment go down to the under-world. (Sheol h7585)
14 qui dixerunt Deo recede a nobis et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
15 quid est Omnipotens ut serviamus ei et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit us, if we pray to him?”
16 verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua consilium impiorum longe sit a me
[[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
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? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?
18 erunt sicut paleae ante faciem venti et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit
How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
19 Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris et cum reddiderit tunc sciet
“But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!
20 videbunt oculi eius interfectionem suam et de furore Omnipotentis bibet
Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty!
21 quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se et si numerus mensuum eius dimidietur
For what concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
22 numquid Deum quispiam docebit scientiam qui excelsos iudicat
Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
23 iste moritur robustus et sanus dives et felix
One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 viscera eius plena sunt adipe et medullis ossa illius inrigantur
His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
25 alius vero moritur in amaritudine animae absque ullis opibus
Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
26 et tamen simul in pulverem dormient et vermes operient eos
Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
27 certe novi cogitationes vestras et sententias contra me iniquas
Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.
28 dicitis enim ubi est domus principis et ubi tabernacula impiorum
For ye say, “Where is the house of the oppressor, And where the dwelling-places of the wicked?”
29 interrogate quemlibet de viatoribus et haec eadem eum intellegere cognoscetis
Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
30 quia in diem perditionis servabitur malus et ad diem furoris ducitur
That the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in the day of wrath?
31 quis arguet coram eo viam eius et quae fecit quis reddet illi
Who will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
32 ipse ad sepulchra ducetur et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit
Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.
33 dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti et post se omnem hominem trahet et ante se innumerabiles
Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
34 quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati
Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
