Job 23
1 Respondens autem Iob, ait:
Then responded Job, and said: —
2 Nunc quoque in amaritudine est sermo meus, et manus plagæ meæ aggravata est super gemitum meum.
Even to-day, is my complaint rebellion? His hand, is heavier than my groaning.
3 Quis mihi tribuat ut cognoscam et inveniam illum, et veniam usque ad solium eius?
Oh that I knew where I might find him! I would come even unto his dwelling-place;
4 Ponam coram eo iudicium, et os meum replebo increpationibus.
I would set out, before him, a plea, and, my mouth, would I fill with arguments;
5 Ut sciam verba, quæ mihi respondeat, et intelligam quid loquatur mihi.
I would note the words wherewith he would respond to me, and would mark what he would say to me.
6 Nolo multa fortitudine contendat mecum, nec magnitudinis suæ mole me premat.
Would he, with fulness of might, contend with me? Nay, surely, he, would give heed to me!
7 Proponat æquitatem contra me, et perveniat ad victoriam iudicium meum.
There an upright man, might reason with him, so should I deliver myself completely from my judge.
8 Si ad Orientem iero, non apparet: si ad Occidentem, non intelligam eum.
Behold! eastward, I go, but he is not there, and, westward, but I perceive him not;
9 Si ad sinistram, quid agam? non apprehendam eum: si me vertam ad dexteram, non videbo illum.
On the north, where he worketh, but I get no vision, He hideth himself on the south that I cannot see him.
10 Ipse vero scit viam meam, et probavit me quasi aurum, quod per ignem transit:
But, he, knoweth the way that I choose, Having tried me, as gold, I shall come forth.
11 Vestigia eius secutus est pes meus, viam eius custodivi, et non declinavi ex ea.
Of his steps, my foot taketh hold, His way, have I kept, and not swerved;
12 A mandatis labiorum eius non recessi, et in sinu meo abscondi verba oris eius.
The command of his lips, and would not go back, and, in my bosom, have I treasured the words of his lips.
13 Ipse enim solus est, et nemo avertere potest cogitationem eius: et anima eius quodcumque voluit, hoc fecit.
But, he, is one, and who can turn him? What his soul desired, he hath done.
14 Cum expleverit in me voluntatem suam, et alia multa similia præsto sunt ei.
Surely he will accomplish what is decreed for me, and, many such things, hath he in store.
15 Et idcirco a facie eius turbatus sum, et considerans eum, timore sollicitor.
For this cause, from his presence, am I driven in fear, I diligently consider and am kept back from him in dread:
16 Deus mollivit cor meum, et Omnipotens conturbavit me.
Yea, GOD, hath made timid my heart, and, the Almighty, hath put me in terror.
17 Non enim perii propter imminentes tenebras, nec faciem meam operuit caligo.
Because I was not cut off before the darkness, nor, before my face, did the gloom form a shroud.
