Job 16
1 Respondens autem Job, dixit:
Then Job answered and said:
2 Audivi frequenter talia: consolatores onerosi omnes vos estis.
I have heard many such things; sorry comforters are ye all.
3 Numquid habebunt finem verba ventosa? aut aliquid tibi molestum est, si loquaris?
Shall windy words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
4 Poteram et ego similia vestri loqui, atque utinam esset anima vestra pro anima mea: consolarer et ego vos sermonibus, et moverem caput meum super vos;
I also could speak as ye do; if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.
5 roborarem vos ore meo, et moverem labia mea, quasi parcens vobis.
I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips would assuage your grief.
6 Sed quid agam? Si locutus fuero, non quiescet dolor meus, et si tacuero, non recedet a me.
Though I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 Nunc autem oppressit me dolor meus, et in nihilum redacti sunt omnes artus mei.
But now He hath made me weary; Thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 Rugæ meæ testimonium dicunt contra me, et suscitatur falsiloquus adversus faciem meam, contradicens mihi.
And Thou hast shrivelled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness riseth up against me, it testifieth to my face.
9 Collegit furorem suum in me, et comminans mihi, infremuit contra me dentibus suis: hostis meus terribilibus oculis me intuitus est.
He hath torn me in His wrath, and hated me; He hath gnashed upon me with His teeth; mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10 Aperuerunt super me ora sua, et exprobrantes percusserunt maxillam meam: satiati sunt pœnis meis.
They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek scornfully; they gather themselves together against me.
11 Conclusit me Deus apud iniquum, et manibus impiorum me tradidit.
God delivereth me to the ungodly, and casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
12 Ego ille quondam opulentus, repente contritus sum: tenuit cervicem meam, confregit me, et posuit me sibi quasi in signum.
I was at ease, and He broke me asunder; yea, He hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces; He hath also set me up for His mark.
13 Circumdedit me lanceis suis; convulneravit lumbos meos: non pepercit, et effudit in terra viscera mea.
His archers compass me round about, He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 Concidit me vulnere super vulnus: irruit in me quasi gigas.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.
15 Saccum consui super cutem meam, et operui cinere carnem meam.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.
16 Facies mea intumuit a fletu, et palpebræ meæ caligaverunt.
My face is reddened with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Hæc passus sum absque iniquitate manus meæ, cum haberem mundas ad Deum preces.
Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 Terra, ne operias sanguinem meum, neque inveniat in te locum latendi clamor meus:
O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no resting-place.
19 ecce enim in cælo testis meus, et conscius meus in excelsis.
Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He that testifieth of me is on high.
20 Verbosi amici mei: ad Deum stillat oculus meus:
Mine inward thoughts are my intercessors, mine eye poureth out tears unto God;
21 atque utinam sic judicaretur vir cum Deo, quomodo judicatur filius hominis cum collega suo.
That He would set aright a man contending with God, as a son of man setteth aright his neighbour!
22 Ecce enim breves anni transeunt, et semitam per quam non revertar ambulo.
For the years that are few are coming on, and I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
