< Job 6 >

1 respondens autem Iob dixit
Then Job answered and said:
2 utinam adpenderentur peccata mea quibus iram merui et calamitas quam patior in statera
O that my grief were weighed thoroughly! That my calamities were put together in the balance!
3 quasi harena maris haec gravior appareret unde et verba mea dolore sunt plena
Surely they would be heavier than the sand of the sea; On this account were my words rash.
4 quia sagittae Domini in me sunt quarum indignatio ebibit spiritum meum et terrores Domini militant contra me
For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; Their poison drinketh up my spirit; The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
5 numquid rugiet onager cum habuerit herbam aut mugiet bos cum ante praesepe plenum steterit
Doth the wild ass bray in the midst of grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 aut poterit comedi insulsum quod non est sale conditum aut potest aliquis gustare quod gustatum adfert mortem
Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 quae prius tangere nolebat anima mea nunc prae angustia cibi mei sunt
That which my soul abhorreth to touch Hath become my loathsome food.
8 quis det ut veniat petitio mea et quod expecto tribuat mihi Deus
O that I might have my request, And that God would grant me that which I long for!
9 et qui coepit ipse me conterat solvat manum suam et succidat me
That it would please God to destroy me; That he would let loose his hand, and make an end of me!
10 et haec mihi sit consolatio ut adfligens me dolore non parcat nec contradicam sermonibus Sancti
Yet it should still be my consolation, Yea, in unsparing anguish I would exult, That I have not denied the commands of the Holy One.
11 quae est enim fortitudo mea ut sustineam aut quis finis meus ut patienter agam
What is my strength, that I should hope? And what mine end, that I should be patient?
12 nec fortitudo lapidum fortitudo mea nec caro mea aerea est
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh brass?
13 ecce non est auxilium mihi in me et necessarii quoque mei recesserunt a me
Alas, there is no help within me! Deliverance is driven from me!
14 qui tollit ab amico suo misericordiam timorem Domini derelinquit
To the afflicted, kindness should be shown by a friend; Else he casteth off the fear of the Almighty.
15 fratres mei praeterierunt me sicut torrens qui raptim transit in convallibus
But my brethren are faithless like a brook; Like streams of the valley that pass away;
16 qui timent pruinam inruet super eos nix
Which are turbid by reason of the ice, And the snow, which hideth itself in them.
17 tempore quo fuerint dissipati peribunt et ut incaluerit solventur de loco suo
As soon as they flow forth, they vanish; When the heat cometh, they are dried up from their place.
18 involutae sunt semitae gressuum eorum ambulabunt in vacuum et peribunt
The caravans turn aside to them on their way; They go up into the desert, and perish.
19 considerate semitas Theman itinera Saba et expectate paulisper
The caravans of Tema look for them; The companies of Sheba expect to see them;
20 confusi sunt quia speravi venerunt quoque usque ad me et pudore cooperti sunt
They are ashamed that they have relied on them; They come to their place, and are confounded.
21 nunc venistis et modo videntes plagam meam timetis
So ye also are nothing; Ye see a terror, and shrink back.
22 numquid dixi adferte mihi et de substantia vestra donate mihi
Have I said, Bring me gifts? Or, Give a present for me out of your substance?
23 vel liberate me de manu hostis et de manu robustorum eruite me
Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? Or, Rescue me from the hand of the violent?
24 docete me et ego tacebo et si quid forte ignoravi instruite me
Convince me, and I will hold my peace; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 quare detraxistis sermonibus veritatis cum e vobis nullus sit qui possit arguere
How powerful are the words of truth! But what do your reproaches prove?
26 ad increpandum tantum eloquia concinnatis et in ventum verba profertis
Do ye mean to censure words? The words of a man in despair are but wind.
27 super pupillum inruitis et subvertere nitimini amicum vestrum
Truly ye spread a net for the fatherless; Ye dig a pit for your friend.
28 verumtamen quod coepistis explete praebete aurem et videte an mentiar
Look now upon me, I pray you; For to your very face can I speak falsehood?
29 respondete obsecro absque contentione et loquentes id quod iustum est iudicate
Return, I pray, and let there be no unfairness; Yea, return; —still is my cause righteous.
30 et non invenietis in lingua mea iniquitatem nec in faucibus meis stultitia personabit
Is there iniquity on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern what is sinful?

< Job 6 >