Job 9
1 et respondens Iob ait
Job replied,
2 vere scio quod ita sit et quod non iustificetur homo conpositus Deo
“Yes, I know all that! But how can anyone be right before God?
3 si voluerit contendere cum eo non poterit ei respondere unum pro mille
If you wanted to argue with God, God could ask a thousand questions that no-one could answer.
4 sapiens corde est et fortis robore quis restitit ei et pacem habuit
God is so wise and so powerful that no-one could challenge him and win.
5 qui transtulit montes et nescierunt hii quos subvertit in furore suo
God moves the mountains suddenly; he overturns them in his anger.
6 qui commovet terram de loco suo et columnae eius concutiuntur
He shakes the earth, making its foundations quake.
7 qui praecipit soli et non oritur et stellas claudit quasi sub signaculo
He is the one who can command the sun not to rise and the stars not to shine.
8 qui extendit caelos solus et graditur super fluctus maris
He alone is the one who stretches out the heavens and walks on the waves of the sea.
9 qui facit Arcturum et Oriona et Hyadas et interiora austri
He made the constellations of the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the southern sky.
10 qui facit magna et inconprehensibilia et mirabilia quorum non est numerus
He is the one who does incredible things that are beyond our understanding, marvelous things that are uncountable.
11 si venerit ad me non videbo si abierit non intellegam eum
But when he passes by me, I don't see him; when he moves on, he is invisible to me.
12 si repente interroget quis respondebit ei vel quis dicere potest cur facis
If he takes away, who can prevent him? Who is going to ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 Deus cuius resistere irae nemo potest et sub quo curvantur qui portant orbem
God does not restrain his anger; he crushes Rahab's helpers underfoot.
14 quantus ergo sum ego qui respondeam ei et loquar verbis meis cum eo
So how much less could I answer God, or choose my words to argue with him!
15 qui etiam si habuero quippiam iustum non respondebo sed meum iudicem deprecabor
Even though I'm right, I can't answer him. I must plead for mercy from my judge.
16 et cum invocantem exaudierit me non credo quod audierit vocem meam
Even if I called him to come and he responded, I don't believe he would listen to me.
17 in turbine enim conteret me et multiplicabit vulnera mea etiam sine causa
He pounds me with the winds of a storm; he wounds me time and again, without giving a reason.
18 non concedit requiescere spiritum meum et implet me amaritudinibus
He doesn't give me a chance even to catch my breath; instead he fills my life with bitter suffering.
19 si fortitudo quaeritur robustissimus est si aequitas iudicii nemo pro me audet testimonium dicere
If it's a question of strength, then God is the strongest. If it's a question of justice, then who will set a time for my case?
20 si iustificare me voluero os meum condemnabit me si innocentem ostendere pravum me conprobabit
Even though I am right, my own mouth would condemn me; even though I am innocent, he would prove me wrong.
21 etiam si simplex fuero hoc ipsum ignorabit anima mea et taedebit me vitae meae
I am innocent! I don't care what happens to me. I hate my life!
22 unum est quod locutus sum et innocentem et impium ipse consumit
That's why I say, ‘It makes no difference to God. He destroys both the innocent and the wicked.’
23 si flagellat occidat semel et non de poenis innocentum rideat
When disaster strikes suddenly he mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 terra data est in manu impii vultum iudicum eius operit quod si non ille est quis ergo est
The earth has been handed over to the wicked; he blinds the eyes of the judges—if it's not him who does this, then who is it?
25 dies mei velociores fuerunt cursore fugerunt et non viderunt bonum
The days of my life race by like a runner, rushing past without me seeing any happiness.
26 pertransierunt quasi naves poma portantes sicut aquila volans ad escam
They pass by like fast sailing ships, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 cum dixero nequaquam ita loquar commuto faciem meam et dolore torqueor
If I said to myself, ‘I will forget my complaints; I will stop crying and be happy,’
28 verebar omnia opera mea sciens quod non parceres delinquenti
I would still be terrified at all my suffering because you, God, will not say I'm innocent.
29 si autem et sic impius sum quare frustra laboravi
Since I'm condemned, what's the point in arguing?
30 si lotus fuero quasi aquis nivis et fulserint velut mundissimae manus meae
Even if I wash myself with pure mountain water and clean my hands with soap,
31 tamen sordibus intingues me et abominabuntur me vestimenta mea
you would toss me into a slime pit so that even my own clothes would hate me!
32 neque enim viro qui similis mei est respondebo nec qui mecum in iudicio ex aequo possit audiri
For God is not a mortal being like me, I can't defend myself or take him to court.
33 non est qui utrumque valeat arguere et ponere manum suam in ambobus
If only there was an arbitrator who could bring us both together!
34 auferat a me virgam suam et pavor eius non me terreat
I wish God would stop beating me with his rod and terrifying me!
35 loquar et non timebo eum neque enim possum metuens respondere
Then I could speak up without being afraid—but since I am, I can't!”
