Job 11

1Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:

Respondens autem Sophar Naamathites, dixit:

2Shall not he that speaketh much, hear also? or shall a man full of talk be justified?

Numquid qui multa loquitur, non et audiet? aut vir verbosus justificabitur?

3Shall men hold their peace to thee only? and when thou hast mocked others, shall no man confute thee?

Tibi soli tacebunt homines? et cum ceteros irriseris, a nullo confutaberis?

4For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight.

Dixisti enim: Purus est sermo meus, et mundus sum in conspectu tuo.

5And I wish that God would speak with thee, and would open his lips to thee,

Atque utinam Deus loqueretur tecum, et aperiret labia sua tibi,

6That he might shew thee the secrets of wisdom, and that his law is manifold, and thou mightest understand that he exacteth much less of thee, than thy iniquity deserveth.

ut ostenderet tibi secreta sapientiæ, et quod multiplex esset lex ejus: et intelligeres quod multo minora exigaris ab eo quam meretur iniquitas tua !

7Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly?

Forsitan vestigia Dei comprehendes, et usque ad perfectum Omnipotentem reperies?

8He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know?

Excelsior cælo est, et quid facies? profundior inferno, et unde cognosces?

9The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

Longior terra mensura ejus, et latior mari.

10If he shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, who shall contradict him?

Si subverterit omnia, vel in unum coarctaverit, quis contradicet ei?

11For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, doth he not consider it?

Ipse enim novit hominum vanitatem; et videns iniquitatem, nonne considerat?

12A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass’s colt.

Vir vanus in superbiam erigitur, et tamquam pullum onagri se liberum natum putat.

13But thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to him.

Tu autem firmasti cor tuum, et expandisti ad eum manus tuas.

14If thou wilt put away from thee the iniquity that is in thy hand, and let not injustice remain in thy tabernacle:

Si iniquitatem quæ est in manu tua abstuleris a te, et non manserit in tabernaculo tuo injustitia,

15Then mayst thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear.

tunc levare poteris faciem tuam absque macula; et eris stabilis, et non timebis.

16Thou shalt also forget misery, and remember it only as waters that are passed away.

Miseriæ quoque oblivisceris, et quasi aquarum quæ præterierunt recordaberis.

17And brightness like that of the noonday, shall arise to thee at evening: and when thou shalt think thyself consumed, thou shalt rise as the day star.

Et quasi meridianus fulgor consurget tibi ad vesperam; et cum te consumptum putaveris, orieris ut lucifer.

18And thou shalt have confidence, hope being set before thee, and being buried thou shalt sleep secure.

Et habebis fiduciam, proposita tibi spe: et defossus securus dormies.

19Thou shalt rest, and there shall be none to make thee afraid: and many shall entreat thy face.

Requiesces, et non erit qui te exterreat; et deprecabuntur faciem tuam plurimi.

20But the eyes of the wicked shall decay, and the way to escape shall fail them, and their hope the abomination of the soul.

Oculi autem impiorum deficient, et effugium peribit ab eis: et spes illorum abominatio animæ.