< Job 33 >

1 Audi igitur Iob eloquia mea, et omnes sermones meos ausculta.
Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and listen to my speech.
2 Ecce aperui os meum, loquatur lingua mea in faucibus meis.
For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken.
3 Simplici corde meo sermones mei, et sententiam puram labia mea loquentur.
My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
4 Spiritus Dei fecit me, et spiraculum Omnipotentis vivificavit me.
The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.
5 Si potes, responde mihi, et adversus faciem meam consiste.
If you can, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against you.
6 Ecce, et me sicut et te fecit Deus, et de eodem luto ego quoque formatus sum.
You are formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
7 Verumtamen miraculum meum non te terreat, et eloquentia mea non sit tibi gravis.
My fear shall not terrify you, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
8 Dixisti ergo in auribus meis, et vocem verborum tuorum audivi:
But you have said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of your words; ) because you say, I am pure, not having sinned;
9 Mundus sum ego, et absque delicto: immaculatus, et non est iniquitas in me.
I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
10 Quia querelas in me reperit, ideo arbitratus est me inimicum sibi.
Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
11 Posuit in nervo pedes meos, custodivit omnes semitas meas.
And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways.
12 Hoc est ergo, in quo non es iustificatus: respondebo tibi, quia maior sit Deus homine.
For how say you, I am righteous, yet he has not listened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal.
13 Adversus eum contendis quod non ad omnia verba responderit tibi?
But you say, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
14 Semel loquitur Deus, et secundo idipsum non repetit.
For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
15 Per somnium in visione nocturna, quando irruit sopor super homines, et dormiunt in lectulo:
[sending] a dream, or in the meditation of the night; (as when a dreadful alarm happens to fall upon men, in slumberings on the bed: )
16 Tunc aperit aures virorum, et erudiens eos instruit disciplina,
then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
17 Ut avertat hominem ab his, quæ facit, et liberet eum de superbia:
to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
18 Eruens animam eius a corruptione: et vitam illius, ut non transeat in gladium.
He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
19 Increpat quoque per dolorem in lectulo, et omnia ossa eius marcescere facit.
And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
20 Abominabilis ei fit in vita sua panis, et animæ illius cibus ante desiderabilis.
And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
21 Tabescet caro eius, et ossa, quæ tecta fuerant, nudabuntur.
until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall show his bones bare.
22 Appropinquavit corruptioni anima eius, et vita illius mortiferis.
His soul also draws near to death, and his life is in Hades.
23 Si fuerit pro eo Angelus loquens, unus de millibus, ut annuntiet hominis æquitatem:
Though there should be a thousand messengers of death, not one of them shall wound him: if he should purpose in his heart to turn to the Lord, and declare to man his fault, and show his folly;
24 Miserebitur eius, et dicet: Libera eum, ut non descendat in corruptionem: inveni in quo ei propitier.
he will support him, that he should not perish, and will restore his body as [fresh] plaster upon a wall; and he will fill his bones with morrow.
25 Consumpta est caro eius a suppliciis, revertatur ad dies adolescentiæ suæ.
And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him among men in [his] full strength.
26 Deprecabitur Deum, et placabilis ei erit: et videbit faciem eius in iubilo, et reddet homini iustitiam suam.
And he shall pray to the Lord, and his prayer shall be accepted of him; he shall enter with a cheerful countenance, with a full expression [of praise]: for he will render to men [their] due.
27 Respiciet homines, et dicet: Peccavi, et vere deliqui, et, ut eram dignus, non recepi.
Even then a man shall blame himself, saying, What kind of things have I done? and he has not punished me according to the full amount of my sins.
28 Liberavit animam suam ne pergeret in interitum, sed vivens lucem videret.
Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
29 Ecce, hæc omnia operatur Deus tribus vicibus per singulos:
Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
30 Ut revocet animas eorum a corruptione, et illuminet luce viventium.
And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light.
31 Attende Iob, et audi me: et tace, dum loquor.
Listen, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
32 Si autem habes quod loquaris, responde mihi, loquere: volo enim, te apparere iustum.
If you have words, answer me: speak, for I desire you to be justified.
33 Quod si non habes, audi me: tace, et docebo te sapientiam.
If not, do you hear me: be silent, and I will teach you.

< Job 33 >