THEN Job answered, and said:

Respondens autem Job, dixit:

But Job answered:

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

Ergo vos estis soli homines, et vobiscum morietur sapientia?

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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,

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

Lampas contempta apud cogitationes divitum parata ad tempus statutum.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quis ignorat quod omnia hæc manus Domini fecerit?

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

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

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

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

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

Nonne auris verba dijudicat? et fauces comedentis, saporem?

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

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

In antiquis est sapientia, et in multo tempore prudentia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adducit consiliarios in stultum finem, et judices in stuporem.

He can thwart the counsellor, bemuse the judge,

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

Balteum regum dissolvit, et præcingit fune renes eorum.

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

He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth nobles.

Ducit sacerdotes inglorios, et optimates supplantat:

lead the priest away ungowned, dispossess the noble,

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

commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.

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

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

Effundit despectionem super principes, eos qui oppressi fuerant relevans.

bring princes into contempt, unman the strong.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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