Job 21

1Then Job answered, and said:

Respondens autem Job, dixit:

2Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.

Audite, quæso, sermones meos, et agite pœnitentiam.

3Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.

Sustinete me, et ego loquar: et post mea, si videbitur, verba, ridete.

4Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?

Numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est, ut merito non debeam contristari?

5Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.

Attendite me et obstupescite, et superponite digitum ori vestro.

6As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

Et ego, quando recordatus fuero, pertimesco, et concutit carnem meam tremor.

7Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?

Quare ergo impii vivunt, sublevati sunt, confortatique divitiis?

8Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.

Semen eorum permanet coram eis: propinquorum turba et nepotum in conspectu eorum.

9Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.

Domus eorum securæ sunt et pacatæ, et non est virga Dei super illos.

10Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.

Bos eorum concepit, et non abortivit: vacca peperit, et non est privata fœtu suo.

11Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.

Egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum, et infantes eorum exultant lusibus.

12They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

Tenent tympanum et citharam, et gaudent ad sonitum organi.

13They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell.

Ducunt in bonis dies suos, et in puncto ad inferna descendunt.

14Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

Qui dixerunt Deo: Recede a nobis, et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.

15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit us if we pray to him?

Quis est Omnipotens, ut serviamus ei? et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum?

16Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.

Verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua, consilium impiorum longe sit a me.

17How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath?

Quoties lucerna impiorum extinguetur, et superveniet eis inundatio, et dolores dividet furoris sui?

18They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.

Erunt sicut paleæ ante faciem venti, et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit.

19God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.

Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris, et cum reddiderit, tunc sciet.

20His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

Videbunt oculi ejus interfectionem suam, et de furore Omnipotentis bibet.

21For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?

Quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se, et si numerus mensium ejus dimidietur?

22Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?

Numquid Deus docebit quispiam scientiam, qui excelsos judicat?

23One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.

Iste moritur robustus et sanus, dives et felix:

24His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

viscera ejus plena sunt adipe, et medullis ossa illius irrigantur:

25But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:

alius vero moritur in amaritudine animæ absque ullis opibus:

26And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.

et tamen simul in pulvere dormient, et vermes operient eos.

27Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.

Certe novi cogitationes vestras, et sententias contra me iniquas.

28For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

Dicitis enim: Ubi est domus principis? et ubi tabernacula impiorum?

29Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.

Interrogate quemlibet de viatoribus, et hæc eadem illum intelligere cognoscetis:

30Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.

quia in diem perditionis servatur malus, et ad diem furoris ducetur.

31Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

Quis arguet coram eo viam ejus? et quæ fecit, quis reddet illi?

32He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.

Ipse ad sepulchra ducetur, et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit.

33He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him.

Dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti, et post se omnem hominem trahet, et ante se innumerabiles.

34How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?

Quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra, cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati?