Ecce omnia hæc vidit oculus meus, et audivit auris mea, et intellexi singula.

Behold my eye hath seen all these things, and my ear hath heard them, and I have understood them all.

Eyes nor ears nor wits are wanting to me,

Secundum scientiam vestram et ego novi: nec inferior vestri sum.

According to your knowledge I also know: neither am I inferior to you.

and I know all this as well as you, but I am still a match for you.

Sed tamen ad Omnipotentem loquar, et disputare cum Deo cupio:

But yet I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

Or rather, it is to God, the omnipotent, I will speak; with him I remonstrate;

prius vos ostendens fabricatores mendacii, et cultores perversorum dogmatum.

Having first shewn that you are forgers of lies, and maintainers of perverse opinions.

but first I would prove you what you are, unskilful plasterers all of you, that follow false rules of your craft.

Atque utinam taceretis, ut putaremini esse sapientes.

And I wish you would hold your peace, that you might be thought to be wise men.

Would you but hold your tongues once for all! It were your best wisdom.

Audite ergo correptionem meam, et judicium labiorum meorum attendite.

Hear ye therefore my reproof, and attend to the judgment of my lips.

Listen while I refute you; mark well what are my pleadings.

Numquid Deus indiget vestro mendacio, ut pro illo loquamini dolos?

Hath God any need of your lie, that you should speak deceitfully for him?

Do you think God stands in need of your shifts, your lying advocacy?

numquid faciem ejus accipitis, et pro Deo judicare nitimini?

Do you accept his person, and do you endeavour to judge for God?

Are you God’s hired partisans, resolved to acquit him?

aut placebit ei quem celare nihil potest? aut decipietur, ut homo, vestris fraudulentiis?

Or shall it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? or shall he be deceived as a man, with your deceitful dealings?

Why then, beware of his own infallible scrutiny; think you he will be blinded, as men are blinded, by your sophistries?

Ipse vos arguet, quoniam in abscondito faciem ejus accipitis.

He shall reprove you, because in secret you accept his person.

Nay, he himself will be the first to blame you for wrongful attachment to his cause;

Statim ut se commoverit, turbabit vos, et terror ejus irruet super vos.

As soon as he shall move himself, he shall trouble you: and his dread shall fall upon you.

your turn, then, to fear every movement of his, to cower before his terrors!

Memoria vestra comparabitur cineri, et redigentur in lutum cervices vestræ.

Your remembrance shall be compared to ashes, and your necks shall be brought to clay.

Your wise memories will vanish into dust, your pride will prove to be a thing of clay.

Tacete paulisper, ut loquar quodcumque mihi mens suggesserit.

Hold your peace a little while, that I may speak whatsoever my mind shall suggest to me.

Nay, hold your tongues for a little, while I say out my mind.

Quare lacero carnes meas dentibus meis, et animam meam porto in manibus meis?

Why do I tear my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?

Do not ask why I set my teeth so firmly, take my life in my hand;

Etiam si occiderit me, in ipso sperabo: verumtamen vias meas in conspectu ejus arguam.

Although he should kill me, I will trust in him: but yet I will reprove my ways in his sight.

let him slay me if he will! I await his decree; needs must that I should make my defence before him,

Et ipse erit salvator meus: non enim veniet in conspectu ejus omnis hypocrita.

And he shall be my saviour: for no hypocrite shall come before his presence.

and spare me he will; let the guilty shun his presence, not I.

Audite sermonem meum, et ænigmata percipite auribus vestris.

Hear ye my speech, and receive with your ears hidden truths.

Nay, hear me out; let me open my mind in full;

Si fuero judicatus, scio quod justus inveniar.

If I shall be judged, I know that I shall be found just.

should I stand my trial, I know that I must be found innocent!

Quis est qui judicetur mecum? veniat: quare tacens consumor?

Who is he that will plead against me? let him come: why am I consumed holding my peace?

Only let me meet my accuser! Why must I die unheard?

Duo tantum ne facias mihi, et tunc a facie tua non abscondar:

Two things only do not to me, and then from thy face I shall not be hid:

But two rights I claim, if I am to face thee openly;

manum tuam longe fac a me, et formido tua non me terreat.

Withdraw thy hand far from me, and let not thy dread terrify me.

withdraw thy chastising hand, and daunt me with thy terrors no longer.

Voca me, et ego respondebo tibi: aut certe loquar, et tu responde mihi.

Call me, and I will answer thee: or else I will speak, and do thou answer me.

Then, if thou wilt call me in question, I will make reply; or let me speak, and be thou ready with thy answer.

Quantas habeo iniquitates et peccata? scelera mea et delicta ostende mihi.

How many are my iniquities and sins? make me know my crimes and offences.

Tell me, what are all these transgressions, these faults thou findest in me? What crime, what wrong-doing is mine?

Cur faciem tuam abscondis, et arbitraris me inimicum tuum?

Why hidest thou thy face, and thinkest me thy enemy?

Why is it that thou turnest thy back on me, and wilt treat me as an enemy?

Contra folium, quod vento rapitur, ostendis potentiam tuam, et stipulam siccam persequeris:

Against a leaf, that is carried away with the wind, thou shewest thy power, and thou pursuest a dry straw.

As well wrestle with a flying leaf, chase a wisp of straw,

scribis enim contra me amaritudines, et consumere me vis peccatis adolescentiæ meæ.

For thou writest bitter things against me, and wilt consume me for the sins of my youth.

as keep this jealous record against me, tax me with the offences of my youth!

Posuisti in nervo pedem meum, et observasti omnes semitas meas, et vestigia pedum meorum considerasti:

Thou hast put my feet in the stocks, and hast observed all my paths, and hast considered the steps of my feet:

To hold me so close a prisoner, watch me wherever I go, track my foot-prints,

qui quasi putredo consumendus sum, et quasi vestimentum quod comeditur a tinea.

Who am to be consumed as rottenness, and as a garment that is moth-eaten.

when I am no better than rotting carrion, than a garment fretted away by the moth!