Liber Iob, 33

1. Audi igitur, Iob, eloquia mea et omnes sermones meos ausculta.

1. "But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.

2. Ecce aperui os meum, loquatur lingua mea in faucibus meis.

2. Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.

3. Ex recto corde sermones mei sunt, et sententiam puram labia mea loquentur.

3. My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.

4. Spiritus Dei fecit me, et spiraculum Omnipotentis vivificavit me.

4. The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5. Si potes, responde mihi, praepara te coram me et consiste.

5. Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

6. Ecce ego sicut tu coram Deo sum et de eodem luto abscissus sum et ego.

6. Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was formed from a piece of clay.

7. Verumtamen terror meus non te terreat, et onus meum non sit tibi grave.

7. Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you.

8. Dixisti ergo in auribus meis, et vocem verborum tuorum audivi:

8. "Surely, you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the sound of your words.

9. “Mundus sum ego et absque delicto; immaculatus, et non est iniquitas in me.

9. You say, `I am clean, without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.

10. Quia querelas in me repperit, ideo arbitratus est me inimicum sibi;

10. Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy;

11. posuit in nervo pedes meos, custodivit omnes semitas meas”.

11. he puts my feet in the stocks, and watches all my paths.'

12. Hoc est ergo, in quo non es iustificatus, respondebo tibi, quia maior est Deus homine.

12. "Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you. God is greater than man.

13. Quare adversus eum contendis, quod non ad omnia verba responderit tibi?

13. Why do you contend against him, saying, `He will answer none of my words'?

14. Semel loquitur Deus, et secundo idipsum non repetit.

14. For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.

15. Per somnium in visione nocturna, quando irruit sopor super homines, et dormiunt in lectulo,

15. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while they slumber on their beds,

16. tunc aperit aures virorum et in visionibus terret eos,

16. then he opens the ears of men, and terrifies them with warnings,

17. ut avertat hominem ab his, quae facit, et liberet eum de superbia,

17. that he may turn man aside from his deed, and cut off pride from man;

18. eruens animam eius a fovea et vitam illius, ut non transeat canalem mortis.

18. he keeps back his soul from the Pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

19. Increpat quoque per dolorem in lectulo, et tremitus ossium eius continuus.

19. "Man is also chastened with pain upon his bed, and with continual strife in his bones;

20. Abominabilis ei fit in vita sua panis, et animae illius cibus ante desiderabilis.

20. so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite dainty food.

21. Tabescet caro eius in conspectu, et ossa, quae non videbantur, nudabuntur.

21. His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen; and his bones which were not seen stick out.

22. Appropinquavit corruptioni foveae, et vita illius mortiferis sedibus.

22. His soul draws near the Pit, and his life to those who bring death.

23. Si fuerit apud eum angelus, unus de milibus interpres, ut annuntiet homini aequitatem,

23. If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him;

24. miserebitur eius et dicet: “Libera eum, ut non descendat in foveam; inveni, in quo ei propitier”.

24. and he is gracious to him, and says, `Deliver him from going down into the Pit, I have found a ransom;

25. Revirescet caro eius plus quam in iuventute, revertetur ad dies adulescentiae suae.

25. let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';

26. Deprecabitur Deum, et placabilis ei erit; et videbit faciem eius in iubilo, et reddet homini iustitiam suam.

26. then man prays to God, and he accepts him, he comes into his presence with joy. He recounts to men his salvation,

27. Canit ad homines et dicit: “Peccavi et iustitiam perverti et non debui satisfacere.

27. and he sings before men, and says: `I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not requited to me.

28. Liberavit animam suam, ne pergeret in foveam, sed vivens lucem videret”.

28. He has redeemed my soul from going down into the Pit, and my life shall see the light.'

29. Ecce haec omnia operatur Deus duobus, tribus vicibus cum homine,

29. "Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,

30. ut revocet animas eorum a fovea et illuminet luce viventium.

30. to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may see the light of life.

31. Attende, Iob, et audi me et tace, dum ego loquor.

31. Give heed, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.

32. Si autem habes quod loquaris, responde mihi; loquere, volo enim te apparere iustum.

32. If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.

33. Quod si non habes, audi me; tace, et docebo te sapientiam”.

33. If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."