Job 21
1 respondens autem Iob dixit
Then responded Job, and said: —
2 audite quaeso sermones meos et agetis paenitentiam
Hear ye patiently my words, and let this be your consolation:
3 sustinete me ut et ego loquar et post mea si videbitur verba ridete
Suffer me, that, I, may speak, and, after I have spoken, thou canst mock!
4 numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est ut merito non debeam contristari
Did, I, unto man, make my complaint? Wherefore, then, should my spirit not be impatient?
5 adtendite me et obstupescite et superponite digitum ori vestro
Turn round to me, and be astonished, and lay hand on mouth!
6 et ego quando recordatus fuero pertimesco et concutit carnem meam tremor
When I call to mind, then am I dismayed, and there seizeth my flesh a shuddering: —
7 quare ergo impii vivunt sublevati sunt confortatique divitiis
Wherefore do, lawless men, live, advance in years, even wax mighty in power?
8 semen eorum permanet coram eis propinquorum turba et nepotum in conspectu eorum
Their seed, is established in their sight, along with them, yea their offspring, before their eyes;
9 domus eorum securae sunt et pacatae et non est virga Dei super illos
Their houses, are at peace, without dread, neither is, the rod of GOD, upon them;
10 bos eorum concepit et non abortit vacca peperit et non est privata fetu suo
His bull, covereth, and causeth not aversion, His cow safely calveth, and casteth not her young;
11 egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum et infantes eorum exultant lusibus
They send forth—like a flock—their young ones, and, their children, skip about for joy;
12 tenent tympanum et citharam et gaudent ad sonitum organi
They rejoice aloud as [with] timbrel and lyre, and make merry to the sound of the pipe;
They complete, in prosperity, their days, and, in a moment to hades, they sink down. (Sheol h7585)
14 qui dixerunt Deo recede a nobis et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus
Yet they said unto GOD, Depart from us, and, In the knowledge of thy ways, find we no pleasure.
15 quid est Omnipotens ut serviamus ei et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? Or what shall we profit, that we should urge him?
16 verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua consilium impiorum longe sit a me
Lo! not in their own hand, is their welfare, The counsel of lawless men, is far from me!
17 quotiens lucerna impiorum extinguetur et superveniet eis inundatio et dolores dividet furoris sui
How oft, the lamp of the lawless, goeth out, and their calamity, cometh upon them, Sorrows, apportioneth he in his anger;
18 erunt sicut paleae ante faciem venti et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit
They become as straw before the wind, and as chaff, which the storm stealeth away.
19 Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris et cum reddiderit tunc sciet
Shall, GOD, reserve, for his children, his sorrow? Let him recompense him so that he may know it;
20 videbunt oculi eius interfectionem suam et de furore Omnipotentis bibet
His own eyes, shall see his misfortune, and, the wrath of the Almighty, shall he drink.
21 quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se et si numerus mensuum eius dimidietur
For what shall be his pleasure in his house after him, when, the number of his months, is cut in twain?
22 numquid Deum quispiam docebit scientiam qui excelsos iudicat
Is it, to GOD, one can teach knowledge, seeing that, he, shall judge, them who are on high?
23 iste moritur robustus et sanus dives et felix
This, man dieth, in the very perfection of his prosperity, wholly tranquil and secure;
24 viscera eius plena sunt adipe et medullis ossa illius inrigantur
His veins, are filled with nourishment, and, the marrow of his bones, is fresh;
25 alius vero moritur in amaritudine animae absque ullis opibus
Whereas, this other man, dieth, in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted good fortune:
26 et tamen simul in pulverem dormient et vermes operient eos
Together, in the dust, they lie down, and, the worm, spreadeth a covering over them.
27 certe novi cogitationes vestras et sententias contra me iniquas
Lo! I know your plans, and the devices, wherewith ye would do me violence!
28 dicitis enim ubi est domus principis et ubi tabernacula impiorum
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? And where the dwelling-tent of the lawless?
29 interrogate quemlibet de viatoribus et haec eadem eum intellegere cognoscetis
Have ye not asked the passers-by in the way? And, their signs, can ye not recognise?
30 quia in diem perditionis servabitur malus et ad diem furoris ducitur
That, to the day of calamity, is the wicked reserved, to the day of indignant visitation, are they led.
31 quis arguet coram eo viam eius et quae fecit quis reddet illi
Who can declare—to his face—his way? And, what, he, hath done, who shall recompense to him?
32 ipse ad sepulchra ducetur et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit
Yet, he, to the graves, is borne, and, over the tomb, one keepeth watch;
33 dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti et post se omnem hominem trahet et ante se innumerabiles
Pleasant to him are the mounds of the torrent-bed, —and, after him, doth every man march, as, before him, there were without number.
34 quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati
How then should ye comfort me with vanity, since, as for your replies, there lurketh, [in them] treachery?
