But Job answered:

Respondens autem Job, dixit:

THEN Job answered, and said:

Strange, that you alone should have the gift of reason; that when you die, wisdom must die too!

Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?

Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom die with you?

Well, I too have my thoughts; I am yet a match for you; this knowledge you bring me is knowledge common to all.

Et mihi est cor sicut et vobis, nec inferior vestri sum; quis enim hæc quæ nostis ignorat?

I also have a heart as well as you: for who is ignorant of these things, which you know?

For all his friends’ raillery, a man such as I will still cry upon God, and have him answer the summons; the simplicity of the upright was ever a laughing-stock,

Qui deridetur ab amico suo, sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim justi simplicitas.

He that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God and he will hear him: for the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn.

and indeed, it is but a rushlight, despised by shrewd and prosperous folk, but it waits its turn.

Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum parata ad tempus statutum.

The lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.

Meanwhile, see how well the robbers store their houses, braving God’s anger, and yet in all things he lets them have their way!

Abundant tabernacula prædonum, et audacter provocant Deum, cum ipse dederit omnia in manus eorum.

The tabernacles of robbers abound, and they provoke God boldly; whereas it is he that hath given all into their hands:

Dost thou doubt it? The very beasts will tell thee, the birds in air will be thy counsellors;

Nimirum interroga jumenta, et docebunt te; et volatilia cæli, et indicabunt tibi.

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.

the secret is known in every cranny of the earth, the fish in the sea will make it known to thee;

Loquere terræ, et respondebit tibi, et narrabunt pisces maris.

Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.

none doubts, I tell thee, that all this is the Lord’s doing;

Quis ignorat quod omnia hæc manus Domini fecerit?

Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these things?

all living things that breathe, all the spirits of all mankind, lie in the hollow of his hand.

In cujus manu anima omnis viventis, et spiritus universæ carnis hominis.

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man.

As surely as the ear judges words, and the mouth relishes the taste of food,

Nonne auris verba dijudicat? et fauces comedentis, saporem?

Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?

so surely is there truth in ancient sayings; it is time brings experience.

In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.

In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.

All God’s doing; his are the wisdom and the power; to him belong prudence in act and discernment.

Apud ipsum est sapientia et fortitudo; ipse habet consilium et intelligentiam.

With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

The ruins he makes, none can rebuild, his imprisonment none can escape;

Si destruxerit, nemo est qui ædificet; si incluserit hominem, nullus est qui aperiat.

If he pull down, there is no man that can build up: if he shut up a man, there is none that can open.

withholds he the rain, all is dried up; sends he rain, it floods all the ground.

Si continuerit aquas, omnia siccabuntur; et si emiserit eas, subvertent terram.

If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.

Yes, he is strong, he is wise; reads the knave’s heart as easily as the fool’s.

Apud ipsum est fortitudo et sapientia; ipse novit et decipientem, et eum qui decipitur.

With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.

He can thwart the counsellor, bemuse the judge,

Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et judices in stuporem.

He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and judges to insensibility.

exchange the king’s baldrick for the rope of a prisoner,

Balteum regum dissolvit, et præcingit fune renes eorum.

He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord.

lead the priest away ungowned, dispossess the noble,

Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:

He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.

bewitch the lips that never erred, rob the elder of his prudence,

commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.

He changeth the speech of the true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.

bring princes into contempt, unman the strong.

Effundit despectionem super principes, eos qui oppressi fuerant relevans.

He poureth contempt upon princes, and relieveth them that were oppressed.

Things deep hidden in darkness he reveals, kindles the light where death’s shadow lay,

Qui revelat profunda de tenebris, et producit in lucem umbram mortis.

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.

brings growth or ruin to a people, and what he has ruined restores.

Qui multiplicat gentes, et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.

He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.

The hearts of chieftains he bewilders, leading them by false paths to vain ends,

Qui immutat cor principum populi terræ, et decipit eos ut frustra incedant per invium:

He changeth the heart of the princes of the people of the earth, and deceiveth them that they walk in vain where there is no way.

till all light fails, and they grope about in darkness, wander aimless like a drunkard after his wine.

palpabunt quasi in tenebris, et non in luce, et errare eos faciet quasi ebrios.

They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.