Job 31
1 [Pepigi fœdus cum oculis meis, ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine.
I made a covenant with mine eyes; and how should I fix my regard upon a maid?
2 Quam enim partem haberet in me Deus desuper, et hæreditatem Omnipotens de excelsis?
For what would have been [my] portion of God from above, and what the heritage of the Almighty from on high?
3 Numquid non perditio est iniquo, et alienatio operantibus injustitiam?
Is not calamity for the unrighteous? and misfortune for the workers of iniquity?
4 Nonne ipse considerat vias meas, et cunctos gressus meos dinumerat?
Doth not he see my ways, and number all my steps?
5 Si ambulavi in vanitate, et festinavit in dolo pes meus,
If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot hath hasted to deceit,
6 appendat me in statera justa, et sciat Deus simplicitatem meam.
(Let me be weighed in an even balance, and God will take knowledge of my blamelessness; )
7 Si declinavit gressus meus de via, et si secutum est oculos meos cor meum, et si manibus meis adhæsit macula,
If my step have turned out of the way, and my heart followed mine eyes, and if any blot cleaveth to my hands;
8 seram, et alius comedat, et progenies mea eradicetur.
Let me sow, and another eat; and let mine offspring be rooted out.
9 Si deceptum est cor meum super muliere, et si ad ostium amici mei insidiatus sum,
If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour's door,
10 scortum alterius sit uxor mea, et super illam incurventur alii.
Let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.
11 Hoc enim nefas est, et iniquitas maxima.
For this is an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity [to be judged by] the judges:
12 Ignis est usque ad perditionem devorans, et omnia eradicans genimina.
For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
13 Si contempsi subire judicium cum servo meo et ancilla mea, cum disceptarent adversum me:
If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me,
14 quid enim faciam cum surrexerit ad judicandum Deus? et cum quæsierit, quid respondebo illi?
What then should I do when God riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him?
15 Numquid non in utero fecit me, qui et illum operatus est, et formavit me in vulva unus?
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?
16 Si negavi quod volebant pauperibus, et oculos viduæ expectare feci;
If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
17 si comedi buccellam meam solus, et non comedit pupillus ex ea
Or have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof,
18 (quia ab infantia mea crevit mecum miseratio, et de utero matris meæ egressa est mecum);
(For from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided the [widow] from my mother's womb; )
19 si despexi pereuntem, eo quod non habuerit indumentum, et absque operimento pauperem;
If I have seen any perishing for want of clothing, or any needy without covering;
20 si non benedixerunt mihi latera ejus, et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est;
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs;
21 si levavi super pupillum manum meam, etiam cum viderem me in porta superiorem:
If I have lifted up my hand against an orphan, because I saw my help in the gate:
22 humerus meus a junctura sua cadat, et brachium meum cum suis ossibus confringatur.
[Then] let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone!
23 Semper enim quasi tumentes super me fluctus timui Deum, et pondus ejus ferre non potui.
For calamity from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I was powerless.
24 Si putavi aurum robur meum, et obrizo dixi: Fiducia mea;
If I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, My confidence!
25 si lætatus sum super multis divitiis meis, et quia plurima reperit manus mea;
If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;
26 si vidi solem cum fulgeret, et lunam incedentem clare,
If I beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness,
27 et lætatum est in abscondito cor meum, et osculatus sum manum meam ore meo:
And my heart have been secretly enticed, so that my mouth kissed my hand:
28 quæ est iniquitas maxima, et negatio contra Deum altissimum.
This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the God who is above.
29 Si gavisus sum ad ruinam ejus qui me oderat, et exsultavi quod invenisset eum malum:
If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, and exulted when evil befell him;
30 non enim dedi ad peccandum guttur meum, ut expeterem maledicens animam ejus.
(Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse; )
31 Si non dixerunt viri tabernaculi mei: Quis det de carnibus ejus, ut saturemur?
If the men of my tent said not, Who shall find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat? —
32 foris non mansit peregrinus: ostium meum viatori patuit.
The stranger did not lodge without; I opened my doors to the pathway.
33 Si abscondi quasi homo peccatum meum, et celavi in sinu meo iniquitatem meam;
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,
34 si expavi ad multitudinem nimiam, et despectio propinquorum terruit me: et non magis tacui, nec egressus sum ostium.
Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, ...
35 Quis mihi tribuat auditorem, ut desiderium meum audiat Omnipotens, et librum scribat ipse qui judicat,
Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation!
36 ut in humero meo portem illum, et circumdem illum quasi coronam mihi?
Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me [as] a crown;
37 Per singulos gradus meos pronuntiabo illum, et quasi principi offeram eum.
I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I come near to him.
38 Si adversum me terra mea clamat, et cum ipsa sulci ejus deflent:
If my land cry out against me, and its furrows weep together;
39 si fructus ejus comedi absque pecunia, et animam agricolarum ejus afflixi:
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have tormented to death the souls of its owners:
40 pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus, et pro hordeo spina.] Finita sunt verba Job.
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and tares instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
