Liber Iob, 24
1. Cur ab Omnipotente non sunt abscondita tempora, qui autem noverunt eum, ignorant dies illius?
1. "Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days?
2. Alii terminos transtulerunt, diripuerunt greges et paverunt eos.
2. Men remove landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them.
3. Asinum pupillorum abegerunt et abstulerunt pro pignore bovem viduae.
3. They drive away the ass of the fatherless; they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4. Subverterunt pauperum viam, et simul se occultare coacti sunt mansueti terrae.
4. They thrust the poor off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves.
5. Alii, quasi onagri in deserto, egrediuntur ad opus suum: vigilantes ad praedam in terra arida ad panem liberis.
5. Behold, like wild asses in the desert they go forth to their toil, seeking prey in the wilderness as food for their children.
6. Agrum non suum demetunt et vineam peccatoris vindemiant.
6. They gather their fodder in the field and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man.
7. Nudi pernoctant sine indumento, nec est eis operimentum in frigore.
7. They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
8. Imbre montium rigantur et non habentes refugium adhaerent rupibus.
8. They are wet with the rain of the mountains, and cling to the rock for want of shelter.
9. Abripuerunt pupillum ab ubere et pauperem pignori sumpserunt;
9. (There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and take in pledge the infant of the poor.)
10. nudi et incedentes absque vestitu et esurientes portant spicas.
10. They go about naked, without clothing; hungry, they carry the sheaves;
11. Inter muros oleum expresserunt et calcatis torcularibus sitiunt.
11. among the olive rows of the wicked they make oil; they tread the wine presses, but suffer thirst.
12. De civitatibus morientes ingemuerunt, et anima vulneratorum clamavit, et Deus non ponit aurem ad precem.
12. From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God pays no attention to their prayer.
13. Ipsi fuerunt rebelles lumini, nescierunt vias eius nec morati sunt in semitis eius.
13. "There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths.
14. Mane primo consurgit homicida, interficit egenum et pauperem; per noctem vero erit quasi fur.
14. The murderer rises in the dark, that he may kill the poor and needy; and in the night he is as a thief.
15. Oculus adulteri observat caliginem dicens: “Non me videbit oculus”; et operiet vultum suum.
15. The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, `No eye will see me'; and he disguises his face.
16. Perfodit in tenebris domos, interdiu sese abdiderunt et ignoraverunt lucem.
16. In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light.
17. Si subito apparuerit aurora, arbitrantur umbram mortis, nam sunt assueti terroribus umbrae mortis.
17. For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.
18. “Levis est super faciem aquae; maledicta est pars eius in terra, nec est qui se dirigat ad vineas eius.
18. "You say, "They are swiftly carried away upon the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward their vineyards.
19. Siccitas et calor abstulerunt aquas nivium, et inferi eos, qui peccaverunt.
19. Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does Sheol those who have sinned.
20. Sinus matris obliviscatur eius, dulcedo illius vermes fiant; non sit in recordatione, sed conteratur quasi lignum iniquitas.
20. The squares of the town forget them; their name is no longer remembered; so wickedness is broken like a tree.'
21. Male egit cum sterili, quae non parit, et viduae bene non fecit.
21. "They feed on the barren childless woman, and do no good to the widow.
22. Detraxit fortes in fortitudine sua et, cum steterit, ille non credet vitae suae.
22. Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life.
23. Dedit ei locum securitatis, quo sustentetur; oculi autem eius sunt in viis illius.
23. He gives them security, and they are supported; and his eyes are upon their ways.
24. Elevati sunt ad modicum et non subsistent, et humiliabuntur sicut omnia et auferentur et sicut summitates spicarum conterentur”.
24. They are exalted a little while, and then are gone; they wither and fade like the mallow; they are cut off like the heads of grain.
25. Quod si non est ita, quis me potest arguere esse mentitum et ponere in nihilum verba mea?”.
25. If it is not so, who will prove me a liar, and show that there is nothing in what I say?"
