Job 23
1 respondens autem Iob dixit
And Job made answer and said,
2 nunc quoque in amaritudine est sermo meus et manus plagae meae adgravata est super gemitum meum
Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.
3 quis mihi tribuat ut cognoscam et inveniam illum et veniam usque ad solium eius
If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!
4 ponam coram eo iudicium et os meum replebo increpationibus
I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.
5 ut sciam verba quae mihi respondeat et intellegam quid loquatur mihi
I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.
6 nolo multa fortitudine contendat mecum nec magnitudinis suae mole me premat
Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.
7 proponat aequitatem contra me et perveniat ad victoriam iudicium meum
There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.
8 si ad orientem iero non apparet si ad occidentem non intellegam eum
See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him;
9 si ad sinistram quid agat non adprehendam eum si me vertam ad dextram non videbo illum
I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.
10 ipse vero scit viam meam et probavit me quasi aurum quod per ignem transit
For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.
11 vestigia eius secutus est pes meus viam eius custodivi et non declinavi ex ea
My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.
12 a mandatis labiorum eius non recessi et in sinu meo abscondi verba oris eius
I have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.
13 ipse enim solus est et nemo avertere potest cogitationem eius et anima eius quodcumque voluerit hoc facit
But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.
14 cum expleverit in me voluntatem suam et alia multa similia praesto sunt ei
For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.
15 et idcirco a facie eius turbatus sum et considerans eum timore sollicitor
For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.
16 Deus mollivit cor meum et Omnipotens conturbavit me
For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.
17 non enim perii propter inminentes tenebras nec faciem meam operuit caligo
For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.
