Job 16
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
And Job answereth and saith: —
2 Audivi frequenter talia, consolatores onerosi omnes vos estis.
I have heard many such things, Miserable comforters [are] ye all.
3 Numquid habebunt finem verba ventosa? aut aliquid tibi molestum est si loquaris?
Is there an end to words of wind? Or what doth embolden 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, like you, might speak, If your soul were in my soul's stead. I might join against you with words, And nod at you with my head.
5 Roborarem vos ore meo: et moverem labia mea, quasi parcens vobis.
I might harden you with my mouth, And the moving of my lips might be sparing.
6 Sed quid agam? Si locutus fuero, non quiescet dolor meus: et si tacuero, non recedet a me.
If I speak, my pain is not restrained, And I cease — what goeth from me?
7 Nunc autem oppressit me dolor meus, et in nihilum redacti sunt omnes artus mei.
Only, now, it hath wearied me; Thou hast desolated all my company,
8 Rugæ meæ testimonium dicunt contra me, et suscitatur falsiloquus adversus faciem meam contradicens mihi.
And Thou dost loathe me, For a witness it hath been, And rise up against me doth my failure, In my face it testifieth.
9 Collegit furorem suum in me, et comminans mihi, infremuit contra me dentibus suis: hostis meus terribilibus oculis me intuitus est.
His anger hath torn, and he hateth me, He hath gnashed at me with his teeth, My adversary sharpeneth his eyes for me.
10 Aperuerunt super me ora sua, et exprobrantes percusserunt maxillam meam, saciati sunt pœnis meis.
They have gaped on me with their mouth, In reproach they have smitten my cheeks, Together against me they set themselves.
11 Conclusit me Deus apud iniquum, et manibus impiorum me tradidit.
God shutteth me up unto the perverse, And to the hands of the wicked turneth me over.
12 Ego ille quondam opulentus repente contritus sum: tenuit cervicem meam, confregit me, et posuit me sibi quasi in signum.
At ease I have been, and he breaketh me, And he hath laid hold on my neck, And he breaketh me in pieces, And he raiseth me to him for a mark.
13 Circumdedit me lanceis suis, convulneravit lumbos meos, non pepercit, et effudit in terra viscera mea.
Go round against me do his archers. He splitteth my reins, and spareth not, He poureth out to the earth my gall.
14 Concidit me vulnere super vulnus, irruit in me quasi gigas.
He breaketh me — breach upon breach, He runneth upon me as a mighty one.
15 Saccum consui super cutem meam, et operui cinere carnem meam.
Sackcloth I have sewed on my skin, And have rolled in the dust my horn.
16 Facies mea intumuit a fletu, et palpebræ meæ caligaverunt.
My face is foul with weeping, And on mine eyelids [is] death-shade.
17 Hæc passus sum absque iniquitate manus meæ, cum haberem mundas ad Deum preces.
Not for 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, do not thou cover my blood! And let there not be a place for my cry.
19 Ecce enim in cælo testis meus, et conscius meus in excelsis.
Also, now, lo, in the heavens [is] my witness, And my testifier in the high places.
20 Verbosi amivi mei: ad Deum stillat oculus meus.
My interpreter [is] my friend, Unto God hath mine eye dropped:
21 Atque utinam sic iudicaretur vir cum Deo, quomodo iudicatur filius hominis cum collega suo.
And he reasoneth for a man with God, And a son of man for his friend.
22 Ecce enim breves anni transeunt, et semitam, per quam non revertar, ambulo.
When a few years do come, Then a path I return not do I go.
