Job 16
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
But Job answered and said,
2 Audivi frequenter talia, consolatores onerosi omnes vos estis.
I have heard many such things: poor comforters are you all.
3 Numquid habebunt finem verba ventosa? aut aliquid tibi molestum est si loquaris?
What! is there any reason in vain words? or what will hinder you from answering?
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 will speak as you [do]: if indeed your soul were in my [soul's] stead, then would I insult you with words, and I would shake my head at you.
5 Roborarem vos ore meo: et moverem labia mea, quasi parcens vobis.
And would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips.
6 Sed quid agam? Si locutus fuero, non quiescet dolor meus: et si tacuero, non recedet a me.
For if I should speak, I shall not feel the pain of my wound: and if I should be silent, how shall I be wounded the less?
7 Nunc autem oppressit me dolor meus, et in nihilum redacti sunt omnes artus mei.
But now he has made me weary, and a worn-out fool; and you have laid hold of me.
8 Rugæ meæ testimonium dicunt contra me, et suscitatur falsiloquus adversus faciem meam contradicens mihi.
My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face.
9 Collegit furorem suum in me, et comminans mihi, infremuit contra me dentibus suis: hostis meus terribilibus oculis me intuitus est.
In his anger he has cast me down; he has gnashed his teeth upon me: the weapons of his robbers have fallen upon me.
10 Aperuerunt super me ora sua, et exprobrantes percusserunt maxillam meam, saciati sunt pœnis meis.
He has attacked me with the keen glances of his eyes; with his sharp [spear] he has struck me [down] upon my knees; and they have run upon me with one accord.
11 Conclusit me Deus apud iniquum, et manibus impiorum me tradidit.
For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.
12 Ego ille quondam opulentus repente contritus sum: tenuit cervicem meam, confregit me, et posuit me sibi quasi in signum.
When I was at peace he distracted me: he took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: he set me up as a mark.
13 Circumdedit me lanceis suis, convulneravit lumbos meos, non pepercit, et effudit in terra viscera mea.
They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing [me] they poured out my gall upon the ground.
14 Concidit me vulnere super vulnus, irruit in me quasi gigas.
They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in [their] might.
15 Saccum consui super cutem meam, et operui cinere carnem meam.
They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.
16 Facies mea intumuit a fletu, et palpebræ meæ caligaverunt.
My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.
17 Hæc passus sum absque iniquitate manus meæ, cum haberem mundas ad Deum preces.
Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 Terra ne operias sanguinem meum, neque inveniat in te locum latendi clamor meus.
Earth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place.
19 Ecce enim in cælo testis meus, et conscius meus in excelsis.
And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
20 Verbosi amivi mei: ad Deum stillat oculus meus.
Let my supplication come to the Lord, and let mine eye weep before him.
21 Atque utinam sic iudicaretur vir cum Deo, quomodo iudicatur filius hominis cum collega suo.
Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even [as] the son of man with his neighbour!
22 Ecce enim breves anni transeunt, et semitam, per quam non revertar, ambulo.
But my years are numbered and [their end] come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return.
