Liber Iob, 31

1. Pepigi foedus cum oculis meis ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine.

1. "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I look upon a virgin?

2. Quae enim pars mea apud Deum desuper, et quae hereditas apud Omnipotentem in excelsis?

2. What would be my portion from God above, and my heritage from the Almighty on high?

3. Numquid non perditio est iniquo, et alienatio operantibus iniustitiam?

3. Does not calamity befall the unrighteous, and disaster the workers of iniquity?

4. Nonne ipse considerat vias meas et cunctos gressus meos dinumerat?

4. Does not he see my ways, and number all my steps?

5. Si ambulavi in vanitate, et festinavit in dolo pes meus,

5. "If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hastened to deceit;

6. appendat me in statera iusta et sciat Deus integritatem meam.

6. (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)

7. Si declinavit gressus meus de via, et si secutum est oculos meos cor meum, et si manibus meis adhaesit macula,

7. if my step has turned aside from the way, and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has cleaved to my hands;

8. seram, et alius comedat, et progenies mea eradicetur.

8. then let me sow, and another eat; and let what grows for me be rooted out.

9. Si deceptum est cor meum super muliere, et si ad ostium amici mei insidiatus sum,

9. "If my heart has been enticed to a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door;

10. molat pro alio uxor mea, et super illam incurventur alii.

10. then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.

11. Hoc enim nefas est et iniquitas iudicialis;

11. For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;

12. ignis est usque ad perditionem devorans et omnia eradicans genimina.

12. for that would be a fire which consumes unto Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase.

13. Si contempsi subire iudicium cum servo meo et ancilla mea, cum disceptarent adversum me,

13. "If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me;

14. quid enim faciam, cum surrexerit ad iudicandum Deus; et, cum quaesierit, quid respondebo illi?

14. what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?

15. Numquid non in ventre fecit me, qui et illum operatus est, et formavit me in visceribus unus?

15. Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?

16. Si negavi, quod volebant, pauperibus et oculos viduae languescere feci;

16. "If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17. si comedi buccellam meam solus, et non comedit pupillus ex ea,

17. or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it

18. quia ab infantia mea educavi eum ut pater et de ventre matris meae direxi eam;

18. (for from his youth I reared him as a father, and from his mother's womb I guided him);

19. si despexi pereuntem, eo quod non habuerit indumentum, et absque operimento pauperem;

19. if I have seen any one perish for lack of clothing, or a poor man without covering;

20. si non benedixerunt mihi latera eius, et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est;

20. if his loins have not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

21. si levavi super pupillum manum meam, cum viderem in porta adiutorium mihi,

21. if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw help in the gate;

22. umerus meus a iunctura sua cadat, et brachium meum cum ossibus lacertorum confringatur,

22. then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.

23. quia timor super me calamitas a Deo, et contra maiestatem eius nihil valerem!

23. For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty.

24. Si putavi aurum securitatem meam et obryzo dixi: Fiducia mea!;

24. "If I have made gold my trust, or called fine gold my confidence;

25. si laetatus sum super multis divitiis meis, et quia plurima repperit manus mea;

25. if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, or because my hand had gotten much;

26. si vidi solem, cum fulgeret, et lunam incedentem clare,

26. if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,

27. et decepit me in abscondito cor meum, et osculatus sum manum meam ore meo,

27. and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand;

28. quae est iniquitas iudicialis, eo quod negassem Deum desuper;

28. this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.

29. si gavisus sum ad ruinam eius, qui me oderat, et exsultavi quod invenisset eum malum,

29. "If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him that hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him

30. cum non dederim ad peccandum guttur meum, ut expeterem maledicens animam eius;

30. (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse);

31. si non dixerunt viri tabernaculi mei: “Quis det, qui de carnibus eius non saturatus sit?”;

31. if the men of my tent have not said, `Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'

32. foris non mansit peregrinus, ostium meum viatori patuit;

32. (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the wayfarer);

33. si abscondi quasi homo peccatum meum et celavi in sinu meo iniquitatem meam;

33. if I have concealed my transgressions from men, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

34. si expavi ad multitudinem nimiam, et despectio propinquorum terruit me, et magis tacui nec egressus sum ostium.

34. because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors --

35. Quis mihi tribuat auditorem? Ecce signum meum! Omnipotens respondeat mihi! Ecce liber, quem scripsit vir litis meae,

35. Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!

36. ut in umero meo portem illum et alligem illum quasi coronam mihi.

36. Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;

37. Numerum graduum meorum pronuntiabo illi et quasi principem adibo eum.

37. I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.

38. Si adversum me terra mea clamat, et cum ipsa sulci eius deflent;

38. "If my land has cried out against me, and its furrows have wept together;

39. si fructus eius comedi absque pecunia et animam agricolarum eius afflixi,

39. if I have eaten its yield without payment, and caused the death of its owners;

40. pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus, et pro hordeo herba foetida!”. Finita sunt verba Iob.

40. let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley." The words of Job are ended.