Then Job answered, and said:

But Job answered:

Respondens autem Job, dixit:

I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.

Old tales and cold comfort; you are all alike.

Audivi frequenter talia: consolatores onerosi omnes vos estis.

Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?

Words are but wind; there is no end to them, and they cost thee nothing.

Numquid habebunt finem verba ventosa? aut aliquid tibi molestum est, si loquaris?

I also could speak like you: and would God your soul were for my soul.

Believe me, I could do as well, were you in my case,

Poteram et ego similia vestri loqui, atque utinam esset anima vestra pro anima mea:

I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over you.

talk the language of consolation, and mock you all the while,

consolarer et ego vos sermonibus, et moverem caput meum super vos;

I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.

speak of encouragement; my lips should tremble with a show of pity.

roborarem vos ore meo, et moverem labia mea, quasi parcens vobis.

But what shall I do? If I speak, my pain will not rest: and if I hold my peace, it will not depart from me.

But here is grief words cannot assuage, nor silence banish;

Sed quid agam? Si locutus fuero, non quiescet dolor meus, et si tacuero, non recedet a me.

But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.

grief that bows me down till my whole frame is lifeless;

Nunc autem oppressit me dolor meus, et in nihilum redacti sunt omnes artus mei.

My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.

these furrowed cheeks are the witness of it. And now a false accuser dares me to my face and baits me!

Rugæ meæ testimonium dicunt contra me, et suscitatur falsiloquus adversus faciem meam, contradicens mihi.

He hath gathered together his fury against me, and threatening me he hath gnashed with his teeth upon me: my enemy hath beheld me with terrible eyes.

One that vents all his spite against me, gnashes his teeth malignantly, watches me with fierce eyes like an enemy.

Collegit furorem suum in me, et comminans mihi, infremuit contra me dentibus suis: hostis meus terribilibus oculis me intuitus est.

They have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains.

Mouths that deride me, hands that smite me on the cheek in reproof, hearts that delight in my anguish,

Aperuerunt super me ora sua, et exprobrantes percusserunt maxillam meam: satiati sunt pœnis meis.

God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me into the hands of the wicked.

to what ill neighbourhood God has condemned me, what tyrants hold me in their grip!

Conclusit me Deus apud iniquum, et manibus impiorum me tradidit.

I that was formerly so wealthy, am all on a sudden broken to pieces: he hath taken me by my neck, he hath broken me, and hath set me up to be his mark.

So free from care my life was, and now, suddenly as though a wild beast had fastened on me, dashed me to the ground, he has broken that life to pieces. I am a mark for his archery,

Ego ille quondam opulentus, repente contritus sum: tenuit cervicem meam, confregit me, et posuit me sibi quasi in signum.

He hath compassed me round about with his lances, he hath wounded my loins, he hath not spared, and hath poured out my bowels on the earth.

his arrows are all about me; still they pierce me to the marrow, drain my life,

Circumdedit me lanceis suis; convulneravit lumbos meos: non pepercit, et effudit in terra viscera mea.

He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.

wound upon wound; giant hands assail me.

Concidit me vulnere super vulnus: irruit in me quasi gigas.

I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.

No wonder if I go clad in sackcloth, disfigured with ashes,

Saccum consui super cutem meam, et operui cinere carnem meam.

My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.

if my face is swollen with weeping, and on my eyelids the darkness falls.

Facies mea intumuit a fletu, et palpebræ meæ caligaverunt.

These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.

Such is the reward of a guiltless life, of prayer offered without stain.

Hæc passus sum absque iniquitate manus meæ, cum haberem mundas ad Deum preces.

O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.

I charge thee, earth, to leave my blood unburied, never to muffle the echoes of my protest;

Terra, ne operias sanguinem meum, neque inveniat in te locum latendi clamor meus:

For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.

there is one in high heaven that knows the truth and must bear witness.

ecce enim in cælo testis meus, et conscius meus in excelsis.

My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.

Friends, prate on; these tears of mine issue their challenge to a God!

Verbosi amici mei: ad Deum stillat oculus meus:

And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!

Ah, could but a mortal bring God to justice, as man impleads man!

atque utinam sic judicaretur vir cum Deo, quomodo judicatur filius hominis cum collega suo.

For behold short years pass away, and I am walking in a path by which I shall not return.

Mortal am I; swiftly my years pass, and by the road I tread there is no returning.

Ecce enim breves anni transeunt, et semitam per quam non revertar ambulo.