Job 6
1 Respondens autem Job, dixit:
Then Job answered and said,
2 [Utinam appenderentur peccata mea quibus iram merui, et calamitas quam patior, in statera!
“Oh, if only my anguish were weighed; if only all my calamity were laid in the balance!
3 Quasi arena maris hæc gravior appareret; unde et verba mea dolore sunt plena:
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas. That is why my words were reckless.
4 quia sagittæ Domini in me sunt, quarum indignatio ebibit spiritum meum; et terrores Domini militant contra me.
For the arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks up the poison; the terrors of God have arranged themselves in array against me.
5 Numquid rugiet onager cum habuerit herbam? aut mugiet bos cum ante præsepe plenum steterit?
Does the wild donkey bray in despair when he has grass? Or does the ox low in hunger when it has fodder?
6 aut poterit comedi insulsum, quod non est sale conditum? aut potest aliquis gustare quod gustatum affert mortem?
Can that which has no taste be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 Quæ prius nolebat tangere anima mea, nunc, præ angustia, cibi mei sunt.
I refuse to touch them; they are like disgusting food to me.
8 Quis det ut veniat petitio mea, et quod expecto tribuat mihi Deus?
Oh, that I might have my request; oh, that God would grant me the thing I long for:
9 et qui cœpit, ipse me conterat; solvat manum suam, et succidat me?
that it would please God to crush me once, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off from this life!
10 Et hæc mihi sit consolatio, ut affligens me dolore, non parcat, nec contradicam sermonibus Sancti.
May this still be my consolation— even if I exult in pain that does not lessen: that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 Quæ est enim fortitudo mea, ut sustineam? aut quis finis meus, ut patienter agam?
What is my strength, that I should try to wait? What is my end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Nec fortitudo lapidum fortitudo mea, nec caro mea ænea est.
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh made of bronze?
13 Ecce non est auxilium mihi in me, et necessarii quoque mei recesserunt a me.
Is it not true that I have no help in myself, and that wisdom has been driven out of me?
14 Qui tollit ab amico suo misericordiam, timorem Domini derelinquit.
To the person who is about to faint, faithfulness should be shown by his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 Fratres mei præterierunt me, sicut torrens qui raptim transit in convallibus.
But my brothers have been as faithful to me as a desert streambed, as channels of water that pass away to nothing,
16 Qui timent pruinam, irruet super eos nix.
which are darkened because of ice over them, and because of the snow that hides itself in them.
17 Tempore quo fuerint dissipati, peribunt; et ut incaluerit, solventur de loco suo.
When they thaw out, they vanish; when it is hot, they melt out of their place.
18 Involutæ sunt semitæ gressuum eorum; ambulabunt in vacuum, et peribunt.
The caravans that travel by their way turn aside for water; they wander into barren land and then perish.
19 Considerate semitas Thema, itinera Saba, et expectate paulisper.
Caravans from Tema looked there, while companies of Sheba hoped in them.
20 Confusi sunt, quia speravi: venerunt quoque usque ad me, et pudore cooperti sunt.
They were disappointed because they had been confident of finding water. They went there, but they were deceived.
21 Nunc venistis; et modo videntes plagam meam, timetis.
For now you friends are nothing to me; you see my dreadful situation and are afraid.
22 Numquid dixi: Afferte mihi, et de substantia vestra donate mihi?
Did I say to you, 'Give something to me?' Or, 'Offer me a gift from your wealth?'
23 vel: Liberate me de manu hostis, et de manu robustorum eruite me?
Or, 'Save me from my adversary's hand?' Or, 'Ransom me from the hand of my oppressors?'
24 Docete me, et ego tacebo: et si quid forte ignoravi, instruite me.
Teach me, and I will hold my peace; make me understand where I have been wrong.
25 Quare detraxistis sermonibus veritatis, cum e vobis nullus sit qui possit arguere me?
How painful are truthful words! But your arguments, how do they actually rebuke me?
26 Ad increpandum tantum eloquia concinnatis, et in ventum verba profertis.
Do you plan to ignore my words, treating the words of a desperate man like the wind?
27 Super pupillum irruitis, et subvertere nitimini amicum vestrum.
Indeed, you cast lots for a fatherless child, and haggle over your friend like merchandise.
28 Verumtamen quod cœpistis explete: præbete aurem, et videte an mentiar.
Now, therefore, please look at me, for surely I would not lie to your face.
29 Respondete, obsecro, absque contentione; et loquentes id quod justum est, judicate.
Relent, I beg you; let there be no injustice with you; Indeed, relent, for my cause is just.
30 Et non invenietis in lingua mea iniquitatem, nec in faucibus meis stultitia personabit.]
Is there evil on my tongue? Cannot my mouth detect malicious things?
