Liber Iob, 15

1. respondens autem Eliphaz Themanites dixit

1. And Eliphaz the Themanite, answered, and said:

2. numquid sapiens respondebit quasi in ventum loquens et implebit ardore stomachum suum

2. Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking in the wind, and fill his stomach with burning heat?

3. arguis verbis eum qui non est æqualis tui et loqueris quod tibi non expedit

3. Thou reprovest him by words, who is not equal to thee, and thou speakest that which is not good for thee.

4. quantum in te est evacuasti timorem et tulisti preces coram Deo

4. As much as is in thee, thou hast made void fear, and hast taken away prayers from before God.

5. docuit enim iniquitas tua os tuum et imitaris linguam blasphemantium

5. For thy iniquity hath taught thy mouth, and thou imitatest the tongue of blasphemers.

6. condemnabit te os tuum et non ego et labia tua respondebunt tibi

6. Thy own mouth shall condemn thee, and not I: and thy own lips shall answer thee.

7. numquid primus homo tu natus es et ante colles formatus

7. Art thou the first man that was born, or wast thou made before the hills ?

8. numquid consilium Dei audisti et inferior te erit ejus sapientia

8. Hast thou heard God's counsel, and shall his wisdom be inferior to thee?

9. quid nosti quod ignoremus quid intellegis quod nesciamus

9. What knowest thou that we are ignorant of? what dost thou understand that we know not?

10. et senes et antiqui sunt in nobis multo vetustiores quam patres tui

10. There are with us also aged and ancient men, much elder than thy fathers.

11. numquid grande est ut consoletur te Deus sed verba tua prava hoc prohibent

11. Is it a great matter that God should comfort thee? but thy wicked words hinder this.

12. quid te elevat cor tuum et quasi magna cogitans adtonitos habes oculos

12. Why doth thy heart elevate thee, and why dost thou stare with thy eyes, as if they were thinking great things ?

13. quid tumet contra Deum spiritus tuus ut proferas de ore hujuscemodi sermones

13. Why doth thy spirit swell against God, to utter such words out of thy mouth ?

14. quid est homo ut inmaculatus sit et ut justus appareat natus de muliere

14. What is man that he should be without spot, and he that is born of a woman that he should appear just?

15. ecce inter sanctos ejus nemo inmutabilis et cæli non sunt mundi in conspectu ejus

15. Behold among his saints none is unchangeable, and the heavens are not pure in his sight.

16. quanto magis abominabilis et inutilis homo qui bibit quasi aquas iniquitatem

16. How much more is man abominable, and unprofitable, who drinketh iniquity like water?

17. ostendam tibi audi me quod vidi narrabo tibi

17. I will shew thee, hear me : and I mill tell thee what I have seen.

18. sapientes confitentur et non abscondunt patres suos

18. Wise men confess and hide not their fathers.

19. quibus solis data est terra et non transibit alienus per eos

19. To whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger hath passed among them.

20. cunctis diebus suis impius superbit et numerus annorum incertus est tyrannidis ejus

20. The wicked man is proud all his days, and the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain.

21. sonitus terroris semper in auribus illius et cum pax sit ille insidias suspicatur

21. The sound of dread is always in his ears: and when there is peace, he always suspecteth treason.

22. non credit quod reverti possit de tenebris circumspectans undique gladium

22. He believeth not that he may return from darkness to light, looking round about for the sword on every side.

23. cum se moverit ad quærendum panem novit quod paratus sit in manu ejus tenebrarum dies

23. When he moveth himself to seek bread, he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

24. terrebit eum tribulatio et angustia vallabit eum sicut regem qui præparatur ad prœlium

24. Tribulation shall terrify him, and distress shall surround him, as a king that is prepared for the battle.

25. tetendit enim adversus Deum manum suam et contra Omnipotentem roboratus est

25. For he hath stretched out his hand against God, and hath strengthened himself against the Almighty.

26. cucurrit adversus eum erecto collo et pingui cervice armatus est

26. He hath run against him with his neck raised up, and is armed with a fat neck.

27. operuit faciem ejus crassitudo et de lateribus ejus arvina dependet

27. Fatness hath covered his face, and the fat hangeth down on his sides.

28. habitavit in civitatibus desolatis et in domibus desertis quæ in tumulos sunt redactæ

28. He hath dwelt in desolate cities, and in desert houses that are reduced into heaps.

29. non ditabitur nec perseverabit substantia ejus nec mittet in terra radicem suam

29. He shall not be enriched, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he push his root in the earth.

30. non recedet de tenebris ramos ejus arefaciet flamma et auferetur spiritu oris sui

30. He shall not depart out of darkness: the flame shall dry up his branches, and he shall be taken away by the breath of his own month.

31. non credat frustra errore deceptus quod aliquo pretio redimendus sit

31. He shall not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he may be redeemed with any price.

32. antequam dies ejus impleantur peribit et manus ejus arescet

32. Before his days be full he shall perish: and his hands shall wither away.

33. lædetur quasi vinea in primo flore botrus ejus et quasi oliva proiciens florem suum

33. He shall be blasted as a vine when its grapes are in the first flower, and as an olive tree that casteth its flower.

34. congregatio enim hypocritæ sterilis et ignis devorabit tabernacula eorum qui munera libenter accipiunt

34. For the congregation of the hypocrite is barren, and fire shall devour their tabernacles, who love to take bribes.

35. concepit dolorem et peperit iniquitatem et uterus ejus præparat dolos

35. He hath conceived sorrow, and hath brought forth iniquity, and his womb prepareth deceits.