But Job answered:

Then Job answered, and said:

Respondens autem Job, dixit:

Old tales and cold comfort; you are all alike.

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

Audivi frequenter talia: consolatores onerosi omnes vos estis.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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.

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

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

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.

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

wound upon wound; giant hands assail me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Facies mea intumuit a fletu, et palpebræ meæ caligaverunt.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Verbosi amici mei: ad Deum stillat oculus meus:

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

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

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

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

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

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