Liber Iob, 11

1. respondens autem Sophar Naamathites dixit

1. Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:

2. numquid qui multa loquitur non et audiet aut vir verbosus justificabitur

2. Shall not he that speaketh much, hear also? or shall a man full of talk be justified?

3. tibi soli tacebunt homines et cum ceteros inriseris a nullo confutaberis

3. Shall men hold their peace to thee only? and when thou hast mocked others, shall no man confute thee?

4. dixisti enim purus est sermo meus et mundus sum in conspectu tuo

4. For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight.

5. atque utinam Deus loqueretur tecum et aperiret labia sua tibi

5. And I wish that God would speak with thee, and would open his lips to thee,

6. ut ostenderet tibi secreta sapientiæ et quod multiplex esset lex ejus et intellegeres quod multo minora exigaris a Deo quam meretur iniquitas tua

6. That he might shew thee the secrets of wisdom, and that his law is manifold, and thou mightest understand that he exacteth much less of thee, than thy iniquity deserveth.

7. forsitan vestigia Dei conprehendes et usque ad perfectum Omnipotentem repperies

7. Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly?

8. excelsior cælo est et quid facies profundior inferno et unde cognosces

8. He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do ? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know?

9. longior terræ mensura ejus et latior mari

9. The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10. si subverterit omnia vel in unum coartaverit quis contradicet ei

10. If he shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, who shall contradict him?

11. ipse enim novit hominum vanitatem et videns iniquitatem nonne considerat

11. For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, doth he not consider it?

12. vir vanus in superbiam erigitur et tamquam pullum onagri se liberum natum putat

12. A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass's colt.

13. tu autem firmasti cor tuum et expandisti ad eum manus tuas

13. Rut thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to him.

14. si iniquitatem quod est in manu tua abstuleris a te et non manserit in tabernaculo tuo iniustitia

14. If thou wilt put away from thee the iniquity that is in thy hand, and lot not injustice remain in thy tabernacle:

15. tum levare poteris faciem tuam absque macula et eris stabilis et non timebis

15. Then mayst thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear.

16. miseriæ quoque oblivisceris et quasi aquarum quæ præterierint recordaberis

16. Thou shalt also forget misery, and remember it only as waters that are passed away.

17. et quasi meridianus fulgor consurget tibi ad vesperam et cum te consumptum putaveris orieris ut lucifer

17. And brightness like that of the noonday, shall arise to thee at evening: and when thou shalt think thyself consumed, thou shalt rise as the day star.

18. et habebis fiduciam proposita tibi spe et defossus securus dormies

18. And thou shalt have confidence, hope being set before thee, and being buried thou shalt sleep secure.

19. requiesces et non erit qui te exterreat et deprecabuntur faciem tuam plurimi

19. Thou shalt rest, and there shall be none to make thee afraid: and many shall entreat thy face.

20. oculi autem impiorum deficient et effugium peribit ab eis et spes eorum abominatio animæ

20. But the eyes of the wicked shall decay, and the way to escape shall fail them, and their hope the abomination of the soul.