Job 21
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
But Job answered and said,
2 Audite quæso sermones meos, et agite pœnitentiam.
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3 Sustinete me, et ego loquar, et post mea, si videbitur, verba ridete.
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 Numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est, ut merito non debeam contristari?
As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5 Attendite me, et obstupescite, et superponite digitum ori vestro:
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand on your mouth.
6 Et ego quando recordatus fuero, pertimesco, et concutit carnem meam tremor.
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
7 Quare ergo impii vivunt, sublevati sunt, confortatique divitiis?
Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, are mighty in power?
8 Semen eorum permanet coram eis, propinquorum turba, et nepotum in conspectu eorum.
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Domus eorum securæ sunt et pacatæ, et non est virga Dei super illos.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God on them.
10 Bos eorum concepit, et non abortivit: vacca peperit, et non est privata fœtu suo.
Their bull engenders, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf.
11 Egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum, et infantes eorum exultant lusibus.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 Tenent tympanum, et citharam, et gaudent ad sonitum organi.
They take the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 Qui dixerunt Deo: Recede a nobis, et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.
Therefore they say to God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.
15 Quis est Omnipotens, ut serviamus ei? et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray to him?
16 Verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua, consilium impiorum longe sit a me.
See, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 Quoties lucerna impiorum extinguetur, et superveniet eis inundatio, et dolores dividet furoris sui?
How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft comes their destruction on them! God distributes sorrows in his anger.
18 Erunt sicut paleæ ante faciem venti, et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit.
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
19 Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris: et cum reddiderit, tunc sciet.
God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
20 Videbunt oculi eius interfectionem suam, et de furore Omnipotentis bibet.
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se? et si numerus mensium eius dimidietur?
For what pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the middle?
22 Numquid Deus docebit quis piam scientiam, qui excelsos iudicat?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.
23 Iste moritur robustus et sanus, dives et felix.
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 Viscera eius plena sunt adipe, et medullis ossa illius irrigantur:
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 Alius vero moritur in amaritudine animæ absque ullis opibus:
And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
26 Et tamen simul in pulvere dormient, et vermes operient eos.
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27 Certe novi cogitationes vestras, et sententias contra me iniquas.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which you wrongfully imagine against me.
28 Dicitis enim: Ubi est domus principis? et ubi tabernacula impiorum?
For you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Interrogate quem libet de viatoribus, et hæc eadem illum intelligere cognoscetis:
Have you not asked them that go by the way? and do you not know their tokens,
30 Quia in diem perditionis servatur malus, et ad diem furoris ducetur.
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31 Quis arguet coram eo viam eius? et quæ fecit, quis reddet illi?
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done?
32 Ipse ad sepulchra ducetur, et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit.
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
33 Dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti, et post se omnem hominem trahet, et ante se innumerabiles.
The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34 Quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra, cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati?
How then comfort you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
