But Job answered, and said:

Respondens autem Job, dixit:

But Job answered:

O that my sins, whereby I have de-served wrath, and the calamity that I suffer, were weighed in a balance.

Utinam appenderentur peccata mea quibus iram merui, et calamitas quam patior, in statera!

Oh that I had such a pair of scales as might weigh provocation of mine against the ills I suffer!

As the sand of the sea this would appear heavier: therefore my words are full of sorrow:

Quasi arena maris hæc gravior appareret; unde et verba mea dolore sunt plena:

The sand on the shore of ocean could not match the burden of them, and do you wonder that my utterance is all reproach?

For the arrows of the Lord are in me, the rage whereof drinketh up my spirit, and the terrors of the Lord war against me.

quia sagittæ Domini in me sunt, quarum indignatio ebibit spiritum meum; et terrores Domini militant contra me.

Deep the Lord’s arrows rankle in me, draining my life; all his terrors are arrayed against me.

Will the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or will the ox low when he standeth before a full manger?

Numquid rugiet onager cum habuerit herbam? aut mugiet bos cum ante præsepe plenum steterit?

Brays the wild ass, be sure he lacks pasture; lows the ox, he stands before an empty crib.

Or can an unsavoury thing be eaten, that is not seasoned with salt? or can a man taste that which when tasted bringeth death?

aut poterit comedi insulsum, quod non est sale conditum? aut potest aliquis gustare quod gustatum affert mortem?

Would you have me relish food unseasoned, lick my lips over the taste that brings death?

The things which before my soul would not touch, now, through anguish are my meats.

Quæ prius nolebat tangere anima mea, nunc, præ angustia, cibi mei sunt.

The food I had no stomach for, in my hard straits eat I must.

Who will grant that my request may come: and that God may give me what I look for?

Quis det ut veniat petitio mea, et quod expecto tribuat mihi Deus?

Might it be granted, this is the boon I long for, this the request I would make of God,

And that he that hath begun may destroy me, that he may let loose his hand, and cut me off?

et qui cœpit, ipse me conterat; solvat manum suam, et succidat me?

that he would finish what he has begun, crush me altogether, strike a full blow and make an end of me!

And that this may be my comfort, that afflicting me with sorrow, he spare not, nor I contradict the words of the Holy One.

Et hæc mihi sit consolatio, ut affligens me dolore, non parcat, nec contradicam sermonibus Sancti.

Consolation enough, if he will but torment me to my death; no repining, then, against his will!

For what is my strength, that I can hold out? or what is my end that I should keep patience?

Quæ est enim fortitudo mea, ut sustineam? aut quis finis meus, ut patienter agam?

In what strength should I hold out? In what hope repose?

My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh of brass.

Nec fortitudo lapidum fortitudo mea, nec caro mea ænea est.

Have I the endurance of flint? Is my flesh brass?

Behold there is no help for me in myself, and my familiar friends also are departed from me.

Ecce non est auxilium mihi in me, et necessarii quoque mei recesserunt a me.

Help in myself is none; human aid keeps its distance from me now.

He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of the Lord.

Qui tollit ab amico suo misericordiam, timorem Domini derelinquit.

Nay, who defies the Lord’s vengeance more surely than friend who refuses compassion to a friend?

My brethren have passed by me, as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys.

Fratres mei præterierunt me, sicut torrens qui raptim transit in convallibus.

See how the men that are my brothers have failed me, fickle as the mountain brooks that run headlong down their ravines;

They that fear the hoary frost, the snow shall fall upon them.

Qui timent pruinam, irruet super eos nix.

first shrivelled with frost, then piled high with snow,

At the time when they shall be scattered they shall perish: and after it groweth hot they shall be melted out of their place.

Tempore quo fuerint dissipati, peribunt; et ut incaluerit, solventur de loco suo.

then, when the snows melt, gone, vanished away at the first touch of the heat!

The paths of their steps are entangled: they shall walk in vain, and shall perish.

Involutæ sunt semitæ gressuum eorum; ambulabunt in vacuum, et peribunt.

This way and that their winding channels turn, but all to no purpose, all are lost to view.

Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.

Considerate semitas Thema, itinera Saba, et expectate paulisper.

They must take heed, now, that would pass by Thema, and travel into Saba; they must wait awhile on their journey.

They are confounded, because I have hoped: they are come also even unto me, and are covered with shame.

Confusi sunt, quia speravi: venerunt quoque usque ad me, et pudore cooperti sunt.

Some hope I had in my friends, but all is disappointment; with eyes that will not meet mine, they come to visit me.

Now you are come: and now seeing my affliction you are afraid.

Nunc venistis; et modo videntes plagam meam, timetis.

Ay, you have come, but finding me so sorely smitten you dread my company.

Did I say: Bring to me, and give me of your substance?

Numquid dixi: Afferte mihi, et de substantia vestra donate mihi?

It was little enough I asked; I never bade you diminish your own wealth by bringing gifts to me,

Or deliver me from the hand of the enemy, and rescue me out of the hand of the mighty?

vel: Liberate me de manu hostis, et de manu robustorum eruite me?

never begged your aid to rid me of some enemy that was too strong for me.

Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and if I have been ignorant in any thing, instruct me.

Docete me, et ego tacebo: et si quid forte ignoravi, instruite me.

Come, be my instructors; I will hear you out in silence; tell me what is the fault I have committed, all unknowing?

Why have you detracted the words of truth, whereas there is none of you that can reprove me?

Quare detraxistis sermonibus veritatis, cum e vobis nullus sit qui possit arguere me?

Ill fare the claims of truth with such as you; not one of you can shew me in the wrong,

You dress up speeches only to rebuke, and you utter words to the wind.

Ad increpandum tantum eloquia concinnatis, et in ventum verba profertis.

yet for very love of reproof you must be reproving still, all your words wasted on the air.

You rush in upon the fatherless, and you endeavour to overthrow your friend.

Super pupillum irruitis, et subvertere nitimini amicum vestrum.

Is it well done, to make a prey of the defenceless, to conspire against the good name of your friend?

However finish what you have begun, give ear, and see whether I lie.

Verumtamen quod cœpistis explete: præbete aurem, et videte an mentiar.

Browbeat me, then, at your pleasure; try if close scrutiny can prove me false;

Answer, I beseech you, without contention: and speaking that which is just, judge ye.

Respondete, obsecro, absque contentione; et loquentes id quod justum est, judicate.

only let there be no contentiousness in your pleadings; in all honesty bring your complaint.

And you shall not find iniquity in my tongue, neither shall folly sound in my mouth.

Et non invenietis in lingua mea iniquitatem, nec in faucibus meis stultitia personabit.

You will not fasten guilt on any word of mine; reckless utterance never these lips shall frame.