Job 16
1 respondens autem Iob dixit
Then Job answered,
2 audivi frequenter talia consolatores onerosi omnes vos estis
“I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!
3 numquid habebunt finem verba ventosa aut aliquid tibi molestum est si loquaris
Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
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 you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,
5 roborarem vos ore meo et moverem labia quasi parcens vobis
but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
6 sed quid agam si locutus fuero non quiescet dolor meus et si tacuero non recedet a me
“Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 nunc autem oppressit me dolor meus et in nihili redacti sunt omnes artus mei
But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.
8 rugae meae testimonium dicunt contra me et suscitatur falsiloquus adversus faciem meam contradicens mihi
You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies 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 has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.
10 aperuerunt super me ora sua exprobrantes percusserunt maxillam meam satiati sunt poenis meis
They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
11 conclusit me Deus apud iniquum et manibus impiorum me tradidit
God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 ego ille quondam opulentus repente contritus sum tenuit cervicem meam confregit me et posuit sibi quasi in signum
I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.
13 circumdedit me lanceis suis convulneravit lumbos meos non pepercit et effudit in terra viscera mea
His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.
14 concidit me vulnere super vulnus inruit in me quasi gigans
He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs at me like a giant.
15 saccum consui super cutem meam et operui cinere cornu meum
I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.
16 facies mea intumuit a fletu et palpebrae meae caligaverunt
My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,
17 haec passus sum absque iniquitate manus meae 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 locum in te latendi clamor meus
“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.
19 ecce enim in caelo testis meus et conscius meus in excelsis
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
20 verbosi mei amici mei ad Deum stillat oculus meus
My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
21 atque utinam sic iudicaretur vir cum Deo quomodo iudicatur filius hominis cum collega suo
that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!
22 ecce enim breves anni transeunt et semitam per quam non revertar ambulo
For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.
