Job 21
1 Respondens autem Job, dixit:
Then Job answered and said,
2 Audite, quæso, sermones meos, et agite pœnitentiam.
“Listen carefully to my words, and let this be the comfort you offer to me.
3 Sustinete me, et ego loquar: et post mea, si videbitur, verba, ridete.
Put up with me, and I also will speak; after I have spoken, mock on.
4 Numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est, ut merito non debeam contristari?
As for me, is my complaint to a person? Why should I not be impatient?
5 Attendite me et obstupescite, et superponite digitum ori vestro.
Look at me and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Et ego, quando recordatus fuero, pertimesco, et concutit carnem meam tremor.
When I think about my sufferings, I am terrified, and trembling seizes my body.
7 Quare ergo impii vivunt, sublevati sunt, confortatique divitiis?
Why do wicked people continue to live, become old, and grow mighty in power?
8 Semen eorum permanet coram eis: propinquorum turba et nepotum in conspectu eorum.
Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring are established before their eyes.
9 Domus eorum securæ sunt et pacatæ, et non est virga Dei super illos.
Their houses are safe from fear; neither is the rod of God on them.
10 Bos eorum concepit, et non abortivit: vacca peperit, et non est privata fœtu suo.
Their bull breeds; it does not fail to do so; their cow gives birth and does not lose her calf prematurely.
11 Egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum, et infantes eorum exultant lusibus.
They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 Tenent tympanum et citharam, et gaudent ad sonitum organi.
They sing to the tambourine and harp and rejoice with the music of the flute.
They spend their days in prosperity, and they go down quietly to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 Qui dixerunt Deo: Recede a nobis, et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.
They say to God, 'Depart from us for we do not wish any knowledge of your ways.
15 Quis est Omnipotens, ut serviamus ei? et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum?
What is the Almighty, that we should worship him? What advantage would we get if we prayed to him?'
16 Verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua, consilium impiorum longe sit a me.
See, is not their prosperity in their own hands? I have nothing to do with the advice of wicked people.
17 Quoties lucerna impiorum extinguetur, et superveniet eis inundatio, et dolores dividet furoris sui?
How often is it that the lamp of wicked people is put out, or that their calamity comes upon them? How often does it happen that God distributes sorrows to them in his anger?
18 Erunt sicut paleæ ante faciem venti, et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit.
How often is it that they become like stubble before the wind or like chaff that the storm carries away?
19 Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris, et cum reddiderit, tunc sciet.
You say, 'God lays up one's guilt for his children to pay.' Let him pay it himself, so that he might know his guilt.
20 Videbunt oculi ejus interfectionem suam, et de furore Omnipotentis bibet.
Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se, et si numerus mensium ejus dimidietur?
For what does he care about his family after him when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Numquid Deus docebit quispiam scientiam, qui excelsos judicat?
Can anyone teach God knowledge since he judges even those who are high?
23 Iste moritur robustus et sanus, dives et felix:
One man dies in his full strength, being completely quiet and at ease.
24 viscera ejus plena sunt adipe, et medullis ossa illius irrigantur:
His body is full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moist.
25 alius vero moritur in amaritudine animæ absque ullis opibus:
Another man dies in bitterness of soul, one who has never experienced anything good.
26 et tamen simul in pulvere dormient, et vermes operient eos.
They lie down alike in the dust; the worms cover them both.
27 Certe novi cogitationes vestras, et sententias contra me iniquas.
See, I know your thoughts, and the ways in which you wish to wrong me.
28 Dicitis enim: Ubi est domus principis? et ubi tabernacula impiorum?
For you say, 'Where now is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked man once lived?'
29 Interrogate quemlibet de viatoribus, et hæc eadem illum intelligere cognoscetis:
Have you never asked traveling people? Do you not know the evidence they can tell,
30 quia in diem perditionis servatur malus, et ad diem furoris ducetur.
that the wicked man is kept from the day of calamity, and that he is led away from the day of wrath?
31 Quis arguet coram eo viam ejus? et quæ fecit, quis reddet illi?
Who will condemn the wicked man's way to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done?
32 Ipse ad sepulchra ducetur, et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit.
Yet he will be borne to the grave; men will keep watch over his tomb.
33 Dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti, et post se omnem hominem trahet, et ante se innumerabiles.
The clods of the valley will be sweet to him; all people will follow after him, as there were innumerable people before him.
34 Quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra, cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati?
How then do you comfort me with nonsense, since in your answers there is nothing but falsehood?”
