Liber Iob, 31

1. pepigi fœdus cum oculis meis ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine

1. I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.

2. quam enim partem haberet Deus in me desuper et hereditatem Omnipotens de excelsis

2. For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?

3. numquid non perditio est iniquo et alienatio operantibus iniustitiam

3. Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?

4. nonne ipse considerat vias meas et cunctos gressus meos dinumerat

4. Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?

5. si ambulavi in vanitate et festinavit in dolo pes meus

5. If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:

6. adpendat me in statera justa et sciat Deus simplicitatem meam

6. Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.

7. si declinavit gressus meus de via et si secutum est oculos meos cor meum et in manibus meis adhesit macula

7. If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:

8. seram et alius comedat et progenies mea eradicetur

8. Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.

9. si deceptum est cor meum super mulierem et si ad ostium amici mei insidiatus sum

9. If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend's door:

10. scortum sit alteri uxor mea et super illam incurventur alii

10. Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.

11. hoc enim nefas est et iniquitas maxima

11. For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.

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

12. It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.

13. si contempsi subire judicium cum servo meo et ancillæ meæ cum disceptarent adversum me

13. If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me:

14. quid enim faciam cum surrexerit ad judicandum Deus et cum quæsierit quid respondebo illi

14. For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him?

15. numquid non in utero fecit me qui et illum operatus est et formavit in vulva unus

15. Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not one and the same form me in the womb?

16. si negavi quod volebant pauperibus et oculos viduæ expectare feci

16. If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:

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

17. If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:

18. quia ab infantia mea crevit mecum miseratio et de utero matris meæ egressa est mecum

18. (For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother's womb :)

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

19. If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:

20. si non benedixerunt mihi latera ejus et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est

20. If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep:

21. si levavi super pupillum manum meam etiam cum viderem me in porta superiorem

21. If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:

22. umerus meus a junctura sua cadat et brachium meum cum suis ossibus confringatur

22. Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.

23. semper enim quasi tumentes super me fluctus timui Deum et pondus ejus ferre non potui

23. For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was not able to bear.

24. si putavi aurum robur meum et obrizæ dixi fiducia mea

24. If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:

25. si lætatus sum super multis divitiis meis et quia plurima repperit manus mea

25. If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.

26. si vidi solem cum fulgeret et lunam incedentem clare

26. If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness:

27. et lactatum est in abscondito cor meum et osculatus sum manum meam ore meo

27. And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth:

28. quæ est iniquitas maxima et negatio contra Deum altissimum

28. Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.

29. si gavisus sum ad ruinam ejus qui me oderat et exultavi quod invenisset eum malum

29. If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.

30. non enim dedi ad peccandum guttur meum ut expeterem maledicens animam ejus

30. For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.

31. si non dixerunt viri tabernaculi mei quis det de carnibus ejus ut saturemur

31. If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?

32. foris non mansit peregrinus ostium meum viatori patuit

32. The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.

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

33. If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.

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

34. If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door.

35. quis mihi tribuat auditorem ut desiderium meum Omnipotens audiat et librum scribat ipse qui judicat

35. Who would grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire; and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,

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

36. That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?

37. per singulos gradus meos pronuntiabo illum et quasi principi offeram eum

37. At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.

38. si adversum me terra mea clamat et cum ipsa sulci ejus deflent

38. If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:

39. si fructus ejus comedi absque pecunia et animam agricolarum ejus adflixi

39. If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:

40. pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus et pro hordeo spina finita sunt verba Job

40. Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.