The Book of Job — Liber Job
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Chapter 13
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Douay-Rheims><Vulgate><Knox Bible
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Behold my eye hath seen all these things, and my ear hath heard them, and I have understood them all.
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Ecce omnia hæc vidit oculus meus, et audivit auris mea, et intellexi singula.
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Eyes nor ears nor wits are wanting to me,
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According to your knowledge I also know: neither am I inferior to you.
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Secundum scientiam vestram et ego novi: nec inferior vestri sum.
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and I know all this as well as you, but I am still a match for you.
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But yet I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
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Sed tamen ad Omnipotentem loquar, et disputare cum Deo cupio:
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Or rather, it is to God, the omnipotent, I will speak; with him I remonstrate;
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Having first shewn that you are forgers of lies, and maintainers of perverse opinions.
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prius vos ostendens fabricatores mendacii, et cultores perversorum dogmatum.
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but first I would prove you what you are, unskilful plasterers all of you, that follow false rules of your craft.
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And I wish you would hold your peace, that you might be thought to be wise men.
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Atque utinam taceretis, ut putaremini esse sapientes.
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Would you but hold your tongues once for all! It were your best wisdom.
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Hear ye therefore my reproof, and attend to the judgment of my lips.
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Audite ergo correptionem meam, et judicium labiorum meorum attendite.
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Listen while I refute you; mark well what are my pleadings.
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Hath God any need of your lie, that you should speak deceitfully for him?
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Numquid Deus indiget vestro mendacio, ut pro illo loquamini dolos?
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Do you think God stands in need of your shifts, your lying advocacy?
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Do you accept his person, and do you endeavour to judge for God?
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numquid faciem ejus accipitis, et pro Deo judicare nitimini?
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Are you God’s hired partisans, resolved to acquit him?
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Or shall it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? or shall he be deceived as a man, with your deceitful dealings?
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aut placebit ei quem celare nihil potest? aut decipietur, ut homo, vestris fraudulentiis?
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Why then, beware of his own infallible scrutiny; think you he will be blinded, as men are blinded, by your sophistries?
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He shall reprove you, because in secret you accept his person.
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Ipse vos arguet, quoniam in abscondito faciem ejus accipitis.
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Nay, he himself will be the first to blame you for wrongful attachment to his cause;
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As soon as he shall move himself, he shall trouble you: and his dread shall fall upon you.
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Statim ut se commoverit, turbabit vos, et terror ejus irruet super vos.
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your turn, then, to fear every movement of his, to cower before his terrors!
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Your remembrance shall be compared to ashes, and your necks shall be brought to clay.
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Memoria vestra comparabitur cineri, et redigentur in lutum cervices vestræ.
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Your wise memories will vanish into dust, your pride will prove to be a thing of clay.
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Hold your peace a little while, that I may speak whatsoever my mind shall suggest to me.
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Tacete paulisper, ut loquar quodcumque mihi mens suggesserit.
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Nay, hold your tongues for a little, while I say out my mind.
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Why do I tear my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?
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Quare lacero carnes meas dentibus meis, et animam meam porto in manibus meis?
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Do not ask why I set my teeth so firmly, take my life in my hand;
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Although he should kill me, I will trust in him: but yet I will reprove my ways in his sight.
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Etiam si occiderit me, in ipso sperabo: verumtamen vias meas in conspectu ejus arguam.
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let him slay me if he will! I await his decree; needs must that I should make my defence before him,
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And he shall be my saviour: for no hypocrite shall come before his presence.
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Et ipse erit salvator meus: non enim veniet in conspectu ejus omnis hypocrita.
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and spare me he will; let the guilty shun his presence, not I.
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Hear ye my speech, and receive with your ears hidden truths.
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Audite sermonem meum, et ænigmata percipite auribus vestris.
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Nay, hear me out; let me open my mind in full;
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If I shall be judged, I know that I shall be found just.
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Si fuero judicatus, scio quod justus inveniar.
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should I stand my trial, I know that I must be found innocent!
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Who is he that will plead against me? let him come: why am I consumed holding my peace?
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Quis est qui judicetur mecum? veniat: quare tacens consumor?
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Only let me meet my accuser! Why must I die unheard?
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Two things only do not to me, and then from thy face I shall not be hid:
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Duo tantum ne facias mihi, et tunc a facie tua non abscondar:
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But two rights I claim, if I am to face thee openly;
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Withdraw thy hand far from me, and let not thy dread terrify me.
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manum tuam longe fac a me, et formido tua non me terreat.
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withdraw thy chastising hand, and daunt me with thy terrors no longer.
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Call me, and I will answer thee: or else I will speak, and do thou answer me.
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Voca me, et ego respondebo tibi: aut certe loquar, et tu responde mihi.
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Then, if thou wilt call me in question, I will make reply; or let me speak, and be thou ready with thy answer.
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How many are my iniquities and sins? make me know my crimes and offences.
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Quantas habeo iniquitates et peccata? scelera mea et delicta ostende mihi.
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Tell me, what are all these transgressions, these faults thou findest in me? What crime, what wrong-doing is mine?
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Why hidest thou thy face, and thinkest me thy enemy?
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Cur faciem tuam abscondis, et arbitraris me inimicum tuum?
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Why is it that thou turnest thy back on me, and wilt treat me as an enemy?
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Against a leaf, that is carried away with the wind, thou shewest thy power, and thou pursuest a dry straw.
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Contra folium, quod vento rapitur, ostendis potentiam tuam, et stipulam siccam persequeris:
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As well wrestle with a flying leaf, chase a wisp of straw,
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For thou writest bitter things against me, and wilt consume me for the sins of my youth.
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scribis enim contra me amaritudines, et consumere me vis peccatis adolescentiæ meæ.
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as keep this jealous record against me, tax me with the offences of my youth!
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Thou hast put my feet in the stocks, and hast observed all my paths, and hast considered the steps of my feet:
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Posuisti in nervo pedem meum, et observasti omnes semitas meas, et vestigia pedum meorum considerasti:
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To hold me so close a prisoner, watch me wherever I go, track my foot-prints,
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Who am to be consumed as rottenness, and as a garment that is moth-eaten.
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qui quasi putredo consumendus sum, et quasi vestimentum quod comeditur a tinea.
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when I am no better than rotting carrion, than a garment fretted away by the moth!