Liber Iob, 40

1. respondens autem Dominus Job de turbine ait

1. And the Lord answering Job out of the whirlwind, said :

2. accinge sicut vir lumbos tuos interrogabo te et indica mihi

2. Gird up thy loins like a man : I will ask thee, and do thou tell me.

3. numquid irritum facies judicium meum et condemnabis me ut tu justificeris

3. Wilt thou make void my judgment : and condemn me, that thou mayst be justified?

4. et si habes brachium sicut Deus et si voce simili tonas

4. And hast thou an arm like God, and canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

5. circumda tibi decorem et in sublime erigere et esto gloriosus et speciosis induere vestibus

5. Clothe thyself with beauty, and set thyself up on high and be glorious, and put on goodly garments.

6. disperge superbos furore tuo et respiciens omnem arrogantem humilia

6. Scatter the proud in thy indignation, and behold every arrogant man, and humble him.

7. respice cunctos superbos et confunde eos et contere impios in loco suo

7. Look on all that are proud, and confound them, and crush the wicked in their place.

8. absconde eos in pulvere simul et facies eorum demerge in foveam

8. Hide them in the dust together, and plunge their faces into the pit.

9. et ego confitebor quod salvare te possit dextera tua

9. Then I will confess that thy right hand is able to save thee.

10. ecce Behemoth quem feci tecum fænum quasi bos comedet

10. Behold behemoth whom I made with thee, he eateth grass like an ox.

11. fortitudo ejus in lumbis ejus et virtus illius in umbilicis ventris ejus

11. His strength is in his loins, and his force in the navel of his belly.

12. constringit caudam suam quasi cedrum nervi testiculorum ejus perplexi sunt

12. He setteth up his tail like a cedar, the sinews of his testicles are wrapped together.

13. ossa ejus velut fistulæ æris cartilago illius quasi lamminæ ferreæ

13. His bones are like pipes of brass, his gristle like plates of iron.

14. ipse principium est viarum Dei qui fecit eum adplicabit gladium ejus

14. He is the beginning of the ways of God, who made him, he will apply his sword.

15. huic montes herbas ferunt omnes bestiæ agri ludent ibi

15. To him the mountains bring forth grass : there all the beasts of the field shall play.

16. sub umbra dormit in secreto calami et locis humentibus

16. He sleepeth under the shadow, in the covert of the reed, and in moist places.

17. protegunt umbræ umbram ejus circumdabunt eum salices torrentis

17. The shades cover his shadow, the willows of the brook shall compass him about.

18. ecce absorbebit fluvium et non mirabitur habet fiduciam quod influat Jordanis in os ejus

18. Behold, he will drink up a river, and not wonder : and he trusteth that the Jordan may run into his mouth.

19. in oculis ejus quasi hamo capiet eum et in sudibus perforabit nares ejus

19. In his eyes as with a hook he shall take him, and bore through his nostrils with stakes.

20. an extrahere poteris Leviathan hamo et fune ligabis linguam ejus

20. Canst thou draw out the leviathan with a hook, or canst thou tie his tongue with a cord?

21. numquid pones circulum in naribus ejus et armilla perforabis maxillam ejus

21. Canst thou put a ring in his nose, or bore through his jaw with a buckle?

22. numquid multiplicabit ad te preces aut loquetur tibi mollia

22. Will he make many supplications to thee, or speak soft words to thee?

23. numquid feriet tecum pactum et accipies eum servum sempiternum

23. Will he make a covenant with thee, and wilt thou take him to be a servant for ever?

24. numquid inludes ei quasi avi aut ligabis illum ancillis tuis

24. Shalt thou play with him as with a bird, or tie him up for thy handmaids?

25. concident eum amici divident illum negotiatores

25. Shall friends cut him in pieces, shall merchants divide him?

26. numquid implebis sagenas pelle ejus et gurgustium piscium capite illius

26. Wilt thou fill nets with his skin, and the cabins of fishes with his head?

27. pone super eum manum tuam memento belli nec ultra addas loqui

27. Lay thy hand upon him : remember the battle, and speak no more.

28. ecce spes ejus frustrabitur eum et videntibus cunctis præcipitabitur

28. Behold his hope shall fail him, and in the sight of all he shall be cast down.