Liber Iob, 8

1. respondens autem Baldad Suites dixit

1. The Baldad the Suhite answered, and said:

2. usquequo loqueris talia et spiritus multiplex sermones oris tui

2. How long wilt thou speak these things, and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

3. numquid Deus subplantat judicium et Omnipotens subvertit quod justum est

3. Doth God pervert judgment, or doth the Almighty overthrow that which is just?

4. etiam si filii tui peccaverunt ei et dimisit eos in manu iniquitatis suæ

4. Although thy children have sinned against him, and he hath left them in the hand of their iniquity:

5. tu tamen si diluculo consurrexeris ad Deum et Omnipotentem fueris deprecatus

5. Yet if thou wilt arise early to God, and wilt beseech the Almighty:

6. si mundus et rectus incesseris statim evigilabit ad te et pacatum reddet habitaculum justitiæ tuæ

6. If thou wilt walk clean and upright, he will presently awake onto thee, and will make the dwelling of thy justice peaceable:

7. in tantum ut priora tua fuerint parva et novissima tua multiplicentur nimis

7. Insomuch, that if thy former things were small, thy latter things would be multiplied exceedingly.

8. interroga enim generationem pristinam et diligenter investiga patrum memoriam

8. For inquire of the former generation, and search diligently into the memory of the fathers:

9. hesterni quippe sumus et ignoramus quoniam sicut umbra dies nostri sunt super terram

9. (For we are but of yesterday, and are ignorant that our days upon earth are but a shadow:)

10. et ipsi docebunt te loquentur tibi et de corde suo proferent eloquia

10. And they shall teach thee: they shall speak to thee, and utter words out of their hearts.

11. numquid vivere potest scirpus absque humore aut crescet carectum sine aqua

11. Can the rush be green without moisture? or a sedge-bush grow without water?

12. cum adhuc sit in flore nec carpatur manu ante omnes herbas arescit

12. When it is yet in flower, and is not plucked up with the hand, it withereth before all herbs.

13. sic viæ omnium qui obliviscuntur Deum et spes hypocritæ peribit

13. Even so are the ways of all that forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite shall perish:

14. non ei placebit vecordia sua et sicut tela aranearum fiducia ejus

14. His folly shall not please him, and his trust shall be like the spider's web.

15. innitetur super domum suam et non stabit fulciet eam et non consurget

15. He shall lean upon his house, and it shall not stand: he shall prop it up, and it shall not rise:

16. humectus videtur antequam veniat sol et in horto suo germen ejus egreditur

16. He seemeth to have moisture before the sun cometh, and at his rising his blossom shall shoot forth.

17. super acervum petrarum radices ejus densabuntur et inter lapides commorabitur

17. His roots shall be thick upon a heap of stones, and among the stones he shall abide.

18. si absorbuerit eum de loco suo negabit eum et dicet non novi te

18. If one swallow him up out of his place, he shall deny him, and shall say: I know thee not.

19. hæc est enim lætitia viæ ejus ut rursum de terra alii germinentur

19. For this is the joy of his way, that others may spring again out of the earth.

20. Deus non proiciet simplicem nec porriget manum malignis

20. God will not cast away the simple, nor reach out his hand to the evildoer:

21. donec impleatur risu os tuum et labia tua jubilo

21. Until thy mouth be filled with laughter, and thy lips with rejoicing.

22. qui oderunt te induentur confusione et tabernaculum impiorum non subsistet

22. They that hate thee, shall be clothed with confusion: and the dwelling of the wicked shall not stand.