Liber Job

Respondens autem Job, dixit:

But Job answered, and said:

Respondente autem Iobe, dic:

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

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

Utinam appende peccatos meo ad que ira mereor, et calamitate quam pate, in statera!

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

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

Quasi arena de mari hoc gravi appare; unde et verbos meo dolore es plena:

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

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 sagittas de Domino in me es, de qui indignatione ebe spiritu meo; et terrores de Domino milita contra me.

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

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

Numquid onagro rugie cum habe herba? Aut bove mugie cum ante praesepe plena sta?

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

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 pote ad comedo insulso, quod non es sale conde? Aut pote aliquo gusta quod gusta ad-fer morte?

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

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

Que ante ne vol tange anima meo, nunc, prae angustia, de cibo meo es.

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

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

Qui que da ut petitione meo que veni, et Deo tribue quod ad me expecta?

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

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

Et qui incipe, ipso contere me; solve manu suo, et succide me?

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

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 hoc ad me es consolatione, ut afflige me dolore, non parce, nec contradice sermones Sancto.

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

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

Que es nam fortitudine meo, ut sustine? Aut qui fine meo, ut patienter age?

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

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

Nec fortitudine de lapides fortitudine meo, nec carne meo aenea es.

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

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

Ecce non es auxilio ad me in me, et necessaria etiam meo recede ab me.

Qui tollit ab amico suo misericordiam, timorem Domini derelinquit.

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

Qui tolle ab amico suo misericordia, derelinque timore de Domino.

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

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

Fratres meo praeteri me, sicut torrente qui raptim transi in convallos.

Qui timent pruinam, irruet super eos nix.

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

Qui time pruina, irrue super illos nive.

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

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 es dissipa, peri; et ut incalesce, solve de loco suo.

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

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

Involve es semetas de gressus de illos; ambula in vacuo, et peri.

Considerate semitas Thema, itinera Saba, et expectate paulisper.

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

Considera semitas Themate, itineres de Saba, et expecta paul(l)isper.

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

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

Confunde es, quia spera: veni etiam usque ad me, et pudore cooperi es.

Nunc venistis; et modo videntes plagam meam, timetis.

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

Nunc veni; et solo vide plaga meo, time.

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

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

Numquid dic: ad-fer ad me, et de substantia vestro dona ad me?

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

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

Vel: liberato me de manu de hoste, et de manu de robustas erue me?

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

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

Doce me, et me tace: et si quid forte ignora, instrue me.

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

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

Quare detrahe sermones de veritate, cum ex vos nullo es qui pote argue me?

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

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

Ad increpa tanto eloquios concinna, et in veni verbos profer.

Super pupillum irruitis, et subvertere nitimini amicum vestrum.

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

Super pupillo irrue, et subverte nitor amico vestro.

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

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

Verumtamen quod incipe exple: praebe aure, et vide an mentior.

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

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

Responde, obsecra, absque contentione; et loque id quod iusto es, iudica.

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

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

Et non inveni in lingua meo iniquitate, nec in fauces meo stultitia persona.