Liber Iob, 16

1. Respondens autem Iob dixit:

1. Then Job answered:

2. “Audivi frequenter talia! onsolatores molesti omnes vos estis.

2. "I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.

3. Numquid habebunt finem verba ventosa, aut quid te exacerbat, ut respondeas?

3. Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?

4. Poteram et ego similia vestri loqui, si esset anima vestra pro anima mea! Concinnarem super vos sermones et moverem caput meum super vos.

4. I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.

5. Roborarem vos ore meo et motum labiorum meorum non cohiberem.

5. I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.

6. Si locutus fuero, non quiescet dolor meus et, si tacuero, non recedet a me;

6. "If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?

7. nunc autem defatigavit me dolor meus, et tu vastasti omnem coetum meum.

7. Surely now God has worn me out; he has made desolate all my company.

8. Rugae meae testimonium dicunt contra me; et suscitatur falsiloquus adversus faciem meam contradicens mihi,

8. And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness has risen up against me, it testifies to my face.

9. Ira eius discerpsit me et adversata est mihi, et infremuit contra me dentibus suis. Hostis meus acuit oculos suos in me.

9. He has torn me in his wrath, and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.

10. Aperuerunt super me ora sua et exprobrantes percusserunt maxillam meam, simul conferti contra me.

10. Men have gaped at me with their mouth, they have struck me insolently upon the cheek, they mass themselves together against me.

11. Concludit me Deus apud iniquum et manibus impiorum me tradit.

11. God gives me up to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

12. Ego, ille quondam tranquillus, repente contritus sum. Tenuit cervicem meam, confregit me et posuit me sibi quasi in signum.

12. I was at ease, and he broke me asunder; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target,

13. Circumdedit me lanceis suis, scidit lumbos meos, non pepercit et effudit in terra iecur meum.

13. his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys, and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.

14. Dirupit me rumpens et diruens, irruit in me quasi gigas.

14. He breaks me with breach upon breach; he runs upon me like a warrior.

15. Saccum consui super cutem meam et dimisi in terram cornu meum.

15. I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my strength in the dust.

16. Facies mea rubuit a fletu, et palpebrae meae caligaverunt;

16. My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness;

17. attamen absque iniquitate manus meae, cum haberem mundas preces.

17. although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

18. Terra, ne operias sanguinem meum, neque inveniat in te locum latendi clamor meus.

18. "O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place.

19. Ecce enim in caelo testis meus, et conscius meus in excelsis.

19. Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he that vouches for me is on high.

20. Interpretes mei sunt cogitationes meae: ad Deum stillat oculus meus.

20. My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,

21. Atque utinam sic iudicaretur vir cum Deo, sicut iudicatur filius hominis cum collega suo.

21. that he would maintain the right of a man with God, like that of a man with his neighbor.

22. Ecce enim breves anni transeunt, et semitam, per quam non revertar, ambulo.

22. For when a few years have come I shall go the way whence I shall not return.