Liber Iob, 21

1. Respondens autem Iob dixit:

1. Then Job answered:

2. “Audite, quaeso, sermones meos, et sint haec consolationes vestrae.

2. "Listen carefully to my words, and let this be your consolation.

3. Sustinete me, et ego loquar; et post verba mea ridebitis.

3. Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.

4. Numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est, ut merito non debeam impatiens fieri?

4. As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?

5. Attendite me et obstupescite et superponite digitum ori vestro.

5. Look at me, and be appalled, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

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

6. When I think of it I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.

7. Quare ergo impii vivunt, senuerunt confortatique sunt divitiis?

7. Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?

8. Semen eorum permanet coram eis, et progenies eorum in conspectu eorum.

8. Their children are established in their presence, and their offspring before their eyes.

9. Domus eorum securae sunt et pacatae, et non est virga Dei super illos.

9. Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.

10. Bos eorum concepit et non abortivit, vacca peperit et non est privata fetu suo.

10. Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves, and does not cast her calf.

11. Egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum, et infantes eorum exsultant lusibus.

11. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

12. Tenent tympanum et citharam et gaudent ad sonitum organi.

12. They sing to the tambourine and the lyre, and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.

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

13. They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.

14. Qui dixerant Deo: “Recede a nobis! Scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.

14. They say to God, `Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of thy ways.

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

15. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?'

16. Sint in manu eorum bona sua; consilium vero impiorum longe sit a me.

16. Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17. Quam saepe lucerna impiorum exstinguitur, et superveniet eis pernicies, et dolores dividet in furore suo?

17. "How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains in his anger?

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

18. That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?

19. “Servabitne Deus filiis iniquitatem eius?”. Retribuat illi, ut sciat.

19. You say, `God stores up their iniquity for their sons.' Let him recompense it to themselves, that they may know it.

20. Videbunt oculi eius interfectionem suam, et de furore Omnipotentis bibet.

20. Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21. Quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se, et si numerus mensium eius recidetur?

21. For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off?

22. Numquid Deum docebit quispiam scientiam, qui excelsos iudicat?

22. Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those that are on high?

23. Iste moritur robustus et sanus, dives et felix;

23. One dies in full prosperity, being wholly at ease and secure,

24. viscera eius plena sunt adipe, et medullis ossa illius irrigantur.

24. his body full of fat and the marrow of his bones moist.

25. Alius vero moritur in amaritudine animae absque ullis opibus;

25. Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of good.

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

26. They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.

27. Certe novi cogitationes vestras et sententias contra me iniquas.

27. "Behold, I know your thoughts, and your schemes to wrong me.

28. Dicitis enim: “Ubi est domus principis, et ubi tabernacula impiorum?”.

28. For you say, `Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked dwelt?'

29. Nonne interrogastis quemlibet de viatoribus et signa eorum non agnovistis?

29. Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony

30. Quia in diem perditionis servatur malus et ad diem furoris abducetur.

30. that the wicked man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath?

31. Quis arguet coram eo viam eius, et, quae fecit, quis reddet illi?

31. Who declares his way to his face, and who requites him for what he has done?

32. Ipse ad sepulcra ducetur, et super tumulum vigilabunt.

32. When he is borne to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb.

33. Dulces erunt ei glebae vallis, et post se omnem hominem trahet et ante se innumerabiles.

33. The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all men follow after him, and those who go before him are innumerable.

34. Quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra, et responsionis vestrae restat perfidia?”.

34. How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood."