1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

1 Pepigi fœdus cum oculis meis,
ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine.

2 For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

2 Quam enim partem haberet in me Deus desuper,
et hæreditatem Omnipotens de excelsis?

3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

3 Numquid non perditio est iniquo,
et alienatio operantibus injustitiam?

4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

4 Nonne ipse considerat vias meas,
et cunctos gressus meos dinumerat?

5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

5 Si ambulavi in vanitate,
et festinavit in dolo pes meus,

6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

6 appendat me in statera justa,
et sciat Deus simplicitatem meam.

7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

7 Si declinavit gressus meus de via,
et si secutum est oculos meos cor meum,
et si manibus meis adhæsit macula,

8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

8 seram, et alius comedat,
et progenies mea eradicetur.

9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;

9 Si deceptum est cor meum super muliere,
et si ad ostium amici mei insidiatus sum,

10 Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.

10 scortum alterius sit uxor mea,
et super illam incurventur alii.

11 For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

11 Hoc enim nefas est,
et iniquitas maxima.

12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

12 Ignis est usque ad perditionem devorans,
et omnia eradicans genimina.

13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

13 Si contempsi subire judicium cum servo meo et ancilla mea,
cum disceptarent adversum me:

14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

14 quid enim faciam cum surrexerit ad judicandum Deus?
et cum quæsierit, quid respondebo illi?

15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

15 Numquid non in utero fecit me, qui et illum operatus est,
et formavit me in vulva unus?

16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

16 Si negavi quod volebant pauperibus,
et oculos viduæ expectare feci;

17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

17 si comedi buccellam meam solus,
et non comedit pupillus ex ea

18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)

18 (quia ab infantia mea crevit mecum miseratio,
et de utero matris meæ egressa est mecum);

19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;

19 si despexi pereuntem, eo quod non habuerit indumentum,
et absque operimento pauperem;

20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

20 si non benedixerunt mihi latera ejus,
et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est;

21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

21 si levavi super pupillum manum meam,
etiam cum viderem me in porta superiorem:

22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

22 humerus meus a junctura sua cadat,
et brachium meum cum suis ossibus confringatur.

23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

23 Semper enim quasi tumentes super me fluctus timui Deum,
et pondus ejus ferre non potui.

24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

24 Si putavi aurum robur meum,
et obrizo dixi: Fiducia mea;

25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

25 si lætatus sum super multis divitiis meis,
et quia plurima reperit manus mea;

26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;

26 si vidi solem cum fulgeret,
et lunam incedentem clare,

27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

27 et lætatum est in abscondito cor meum,
et osculatus sum manum meam ore meo:

28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

28 quæ est iniquitas maxima,
et negatio contra Deum altissimum.

29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

29 Si gavisus sum ad ruinam ejus qui me oderat,
et exsultavi quod invenisset eum malum:

30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

30 non enim dedi ad peccandum guttur meum,
ut expeterem maledicens animam ejus.

31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

31 Si non dixerunt viri tabernaculi mei:
Quis det de carnibus ejus, ut saturemur?

32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.

32 foris non mansit peregrinus:
ostium meum viatori patuit.

33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

33 Si abscondi quasi homo peccatum meum,
et celavi in sinu meo iniquitatem meam;

34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

34 si expavi ad multitudinem nimiam,
et despectio propinquorum terruit me:
et non magis tacui, nec egressus sum ostium.

35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

35 Quis mihi tribuat auditorem,
ut desiderium meum audiat Omnipotens,
et librum scribat ipse qui judicat,

36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.

36 ut in humero meo portem illum,
et circumdem illum quasi coronam mihi?

37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

37 Per singulos gradus meos pronuntiabo illum,
et quasi principi offeram eum.

38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

38 Si adversum me terra mea clamat,
et cum ipsa sulci ejus deflent:

39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

39 si fructus ejus comedi absque pecunia,
et animam agricolarum ejus afflixi:

40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

40 pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus,
et pro hordeo spina. ¶ Finita sunt verba Job.