Job 9
1 et respondens Iob ait
And Job answers and says:
2 vere scio quod ita sit et quod non iustificetur homo conpositus Deo
“Truly I have known that [it is] so, But how is man righteous with God?
3 si voluerit contendere cum eo non poterit ei respondere unum pro mille
If he delights to strive with Him—He does not answer him one of a thousand.
4 sapiens corde est et fortis robore quis restitit ei et pacem habuit
Wise in heart and strong in power—Who has hardened toward Him and is at peace?
5 qui transtulit montes et nescierunt hii quos subvertit in furore suo
Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who has overturned them in His anger.
6 qui commovet terram de loco suo et columnae eius concutiuntur
Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.
7 qui praecipit soli et non oritur et stellas claudit quasi sub signaculo
Who is commanding to the sun, and it does not rise, And the stars He seals up.
8 qui extendit caelos solus et graditur super fluctus maris
Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,
9 qui facit Arcturum et Oriona et Hyadas et interiora austri
Making the Great Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the inner chambers of the south.
10 qui facit magna et inconprehensibilia et mirabilia quorum non est numerus
Doing great things until there is no searching, And wonderful, until there is no numbering.
11 si venerit ad me non videbo si abierit non intellegam eum
Behold, He goes over by me, and I do not see, And He passes on, and I do not attend to it.
12 si repente interroget quis respondebit ei vel quis dicere potest cur facis
Behold, He snatches away, who brings it back? Who says to Him, What [are] You doing?
13 Deus cuius resistere irae nemo potest et sub quo curvantur qui portant orbem
God does not turn back His anger, Proud helpers have bowed under Him.
14 quantus ergo sum ego qui respondeam ei et loquar verbis meis cum eo
How much less do I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?
15 qui etiam si habuero quippiam iustum non respondebo sed meum iudicem deprecabor
Whom, though I were righteous, I do not answer, For my judgment I make supplication.
16 et cum invocantem exaudierit me non credo quod audierit vocem meam
Though I had called and He answers me, I do not believe that He gives ear [to] my voice.
17 in turbine enim conteret me et multiplicabit vulnera mea etiam sine causa
Because He bruises me with a storm, And has multiplied my wounds for nothing.
18 non concedit requiescere spiritum meum et implet me amaritudinibus
He does not permit me to refresh my spirit, But fills me with bitter things.
19 si fortitudo quaeritur robustissimus est si aequitas iudicii nemo pro me audet testimonium dicere
If of power, behold, the Strong One; And if of judgment—who convenes me?
20 si iustificare me voluero os meum condemnabit me si innocentem ostendere pravum me conprobabit
If I am righteous, my mouth declares me wicked; [If] I am perfect, it declares me perverse.
21 etiam si simplex fuero hoc ipsum ignorabit anima mea et taedebit me vitae meae
I am perfect; I do not know my soul, I despise my life.
22 unum est quod locutus sum et innocentem et impium ipse consumit
It is the same thing, therefore I said, He is consuming the perfect and the wicked.
23 si flagellat occidat semel et non de poenis innocentum rideat
If a scourge puts to death suddenly, He laughs at the trial of the innocent.
24 terra data est in manu impii vultum iudicum eius operit quod si non ille est quis ergo est
Earth has been given Into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of her judges, If not—where, who [is] he?
25 dies mei velociores fuerunt cursore fugerunt et non viderunt bonum
My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,
26 pertransierunt quasi naves poma portantes sicut aquila volans ad escam
They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darts on food.
27 cum dixero nequaquam ita loquar commuto faciem meam et dolore torqueor
Though I say, I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!
28 verebar omnia opera mea sciens quod non parceres delinquenti
I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that You do not acquit me.
29 si autem et sic impius sum quare frustra laboravi
I become wicked; why [is] this? I labor [in] vain.
30 si lotus fuero quasi aquis nivis et fulserint velut mundissimae manus meae
If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified my hands with soap,
31 tamen sordibus intingues me et abominabuntur me vestimenta mea
Then You dip me in corruption, And my garments have detested me.
32 neque enim viro qui similis mei est respondebo nec qui mecum in iudicio ex aequo possit audiri
But if a man like myself—I answer Him, We come together into judgment.
33 non est qui utrumque valeat arguere et ponere manum suam in ambobus
If there were a mediator between us, He places his hand on us both.
34 auferat a me virgam suam et pavor eius non me terreat
He turns aside His rod from off me, And His terror does not make me afraid,
35 loquar et non timebo eum neque enim possum metuens respondere
I speak, and do not fear Him, but I am not right with myself.”
