Job maintains his innocence, and complains of his friends.

 1 But Job answered, and said:
Respondens autem Job, dixit :

 2 O that my sins, whereby I have deserved 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!

 3 As the sand of the sea this would appear heavier: therefore my words are full of sorrow:
Quasi arena maris haec gravior appareret; unde et verba mea dolore sunt plena;

 4 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 sagittae Domini in me sunt, quarum indignatio ebibit spiritum meum, et terrores Domini militant contra me.

 5 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 praesepe plenum steterit?

 6 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?

 7 The things which before my soul would not touch, now, through anguish are my meats.
Quae prius nolebat tangere anima mea, nunc, prae angustia, cibi mei sunt.

 8 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?

 9 And that he that hath begun may destroy me, that he may let loose his hand, and cut me off?
Et qui coepit, ipse me conterat; solvat manum suam, et succidat me?

 10 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 haec mihi sit consolatio, ut affligens me dolore, non parcat, nec contradicam sermonibus Sancti.

 11 For what is my strength, that I can hold out? or what is my end that I should keep patience?
Quae est enim fortitudo mea, ut sustineam? aut quis finis meus, ut patienter agam?

 12 My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh of brass.
Nec fortitudo lapidum fortitudo mea, nec caro mea aenea est.

 13 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.

 14 He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of the Lord.
Qui tollit ab amico suo misericordiam, timorem Domini derelinquit.

 15 My brethren have passed by me, as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys.
Fratres mei praeterierunt me, sicut torrens qui raptim transit in convallibus.

 16 They that fear the hoary frost, the snow shall fall upon them.
Qui timent pruinam, irruet super eos nix.

 17 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.

 18 The paths of their steps are entangled: they shall walk in vain, and shall perish.
Involutae sunt semitae gressuum eorum; ambulabunt in vacuum, et peribunt.

 19 Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.
Considerate semitas Thema, itinera Saba, et expectate paulisper.

 20 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.

 21 Now you are come: and now seeing my affliction you are afraid.
Nunc venistis; et modo videntes plagam meam, timetis.

 22 Did I say: Bring to me, and give me of your substance?
Numquid dixi : Afferte mihi, et de substantia vestra donate mihi?

 23 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?

 24 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.

 25 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?

 26 You dress up speeches only to rebuke, and you utter words to the wind.
Ad increpandum tantum eloquia concinnatis, et in ventum verba profertis.

 27 You rush in upon the fatherless, and you endeavour to overthrow your friend.
Super pupillum irruitis, et subvertere nitimini amicum vestrum.

 28 However finish what you have begun, give ear, and see whether I lie.
Verumtamen quod coepistis explete; praebete aurem, et videte an mentiar.

 29 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.

 30 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.