< Job 30 >

1 Nunc autem derident me iuniores tempore, quorum non dignabar patres ponere cum canibus gregis mei:
But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in [their] turn, whose fathers I set at nothing; whom I did not deem worthy [to be with] my shepherd dogs.
2 Quorum virtus manuum mihi erat pro nihilo, et vita ipsa putabantur indigni.
Yes, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term [of life] was lost.
3 Egestate et fame steriles, qui rodebant in solitudine, squallentes calamitate, et miseria.
[One is] childless in lack and famine, [such as] they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.
4 Et mandebant herbas, et arborum cortices, et radix iuniperorum erat cibus eorum.
Who compass the salt places on the sounding [shore], who had salt [herbs] for their food, and were dishonorable and of no repute, in lack of every good thing; who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger.
5 Qui de convallibus ista rapientes, cum singula reperissent, ad ea cum clamore currebant.
Thieves have risen up against me,
6 In desertis habitabant torrentium, et in cavernis terræ, vel super glaream.
whose houses were the caves of the rocks, who lived under the wild shrubs.
7 Qui inter huiuscemodi lætabantur, et esse sub sentibus delicias computabant.
They will cry out among the rustling [bushes].
8 Filii stultorum et ignobilium, et in terra penitus non parentes.
[They are] sons of fools and vile men, [whose] name and glory [are] quenched from off the earth.
9 Nunc in eorum canticum versus sum, et factus sum eis in proverbium.
But now I am their music, and they have me for a byword.
10 Abominantur me, et longe fugiunt a me, et faciem meam conspuere non verentur.
And they stood aloof and abhorred me, and spared not to spit in my face.
11 Pharetram enim suam aperuit, et afflixit me, et frenum posuit in os meum.
For he has opened his quiver and afflicted me: they also have cast off the restraint of my presence.
12 Ad dexteram orientis calamitates meæ illico surrexerunt: pedes meos subverterunt, et oppresserunt quasi fluctibus semitis suis.
They have risen up against [me] on the right hand of [their] offspring; they have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction.
13 Dissipaverunt itinera mea, insidiati sunt mihi, et prævaluerunt, et non fuit qui ferret auxilium.
My paths are ruined; for they have stripped off my raiment: he has shot at me with his weapons.
14 Quasi rupto muro, et aperta ianua, irruerunt super me, et ad meas miserias devoluti sunt.
And he has pleaded against me as he will: I am overwhelmed with pains.
15 Redactus sum in nihilum: abstulisti quasi ventus desiderium meum: et velut nubes pertransiit salus mea.
My pains return upon [me]; my hope is gone like the wind, and my safety as a cloud.
16 Nunc autem in memetipso marcescit anima mea, et possident me dies afflictionis.
Even now my life shall be poured forth upon me; and days of anguish seize me.
17 Nocte os meum perforatur doloribus: et qui me comedunt, non dormiunt.
And by night my bones are confounded; and my sinews are relaxed.
18 In multitudine eorum consumitur vestimentum meum, et quasi capito tunicæ succinxerunt me.
With great force [my disease] has taken hold of my garment: it has compassed me as the collar of my coat.
19 Comparatus sum luto, et assimilatus sum favillæ et cineri.
And you have counted me as clay; my portion in dust and ashes.
20 Clamo ad te, et non exaudis me: sto, et non respicis me.
And I have cried to you, but you hear me not: but they stood still, and observed me.
21 Mutatus es mihi in crudelem, et in duritia manus tuæ adversaris mihi.
They attacked me also without mercy: you have scourged me with a strong hand.
22 Elevasti me, et quasi super ventum ponens elisisti me valide.
And you have put me to grief, and have cast me away from safety.
23 Scio quia morti trades me, ubi constituta est domus omni viventi.
For I know that death will destroy me: for the earth is the house [appointed] for every mortal.
24 Verumtamen non ad consumptionem eorum emittis manum tuam: et si corruerint, ipse salvabis.
Oh then that I might lay hands upon myself, or at least ask another, and he should do this for me.
25 Flebam quondam super eo, qui afflictus erat, et compatiebatur anima mea pauperi.
Yet I wept over every helpless man; I groaned when I saw a man in distress.
26 Expectabam bona, et venerunt mihi mala: præstolabar lucem, et eruperunt tenebræ.
But I, when I waited for good things, behold, days of evils came the more upon me.
27 Interiora mea efferbuerunt absque ulla requie, prævenerunt me dies afflictionis.
My belly boiled, and would not cease: the days of poverty prevented me.
28 Mœrens incedebam, sine furore, consurgens, in turba clamabam.
I went mourning without restraint: and I have stood and cried out in the assembly.
29 Frater fui draconum, et socius struthionum.
I am become a brother of monsters, and a companion of ostriches.
30 Cutis mea denigrata est super me, et ossa mea aruerunt præ caumate.
And my skin has been greatly blackened, and my bones are burned with heat.
31 Versa est in luctum cithara mea, et organum meum in vocem flentium.
My harp also has been turned into mourning, and my song into my weeping.

< Job 30 >