1 Then Job answered and said,

1 Et respondens Job, ait:

2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

2 ¶ Vere scio quod ita sit,
et quod non justificetur homo compositus Deo.

3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

3 Si voluerit contendere cum eo,
non poterit ei respondere unum pro mille.

4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

4 Sapiens corde est, et fortis robore:
quis restitit ei, et pacem habuit?

5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

5 Qui transtulit montes, et nescierunt
hi quos subvertit in furore suo.

6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

6 Qui commovet terram de loco suo,
et columnæ ejus concutiuntur.

7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

7 Qui præcipit soli, et non oritur,
et stellas claudit quasi sub signaculo.

8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

8 Qui extendit cælos solus,
et graditur super fluctus maris.

9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

9 Qui facit Arcturum et Oriona,
et Hyadas et interiora austri.

10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

10 Qui facit magna, et incomprehensibilia,
et mirabilia, quorum non est numerus.

11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

11 Si venerit ad me, non videbo eum;
si abierit, non intelligam.

12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

12 Si repente interroget, quis respondebit ei?
vel quis dicere potest: Cur ita facis?

13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

13 Deus, cujus iræ nemo resistere potest,
et sub quo curvantur qui portant orbem.

14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

14 Quantus ergo sum ego, ut respondeam ei,
et loquar verbis meis cum eo?

15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

15 qui etiam si habuero quippiam justum, non respondebo:
sed meum judicem deprecabor.

16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

16 Et cum invocantem exaudierit me,
non credo quod audierit vocem meam.

17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

17 In turbine enim conteret me,
et multiplicabit vulnera mea, etiam sine causa.

18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

18 Non concedit requiescere spiritum meum,
et implet me amaritudinibus.

19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

19 Si fortitudo quæritur, robustissimus est;
si æquitas judicii, nemo audet pro me testimonium dicere.

20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

20 Si justificare me voluero, os meum condemnabit me;
si innocentem ostendero, pravum me comprobabit.

21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

21 Etiam si simplex fuero, hoc ipsum ignorabit anima mea,
et tædebit me vitæ meæ.

22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

22 Unum est quod locutus sum:
et innocentem et impium ipse consumit.

23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

23 Si flagellat, occidat semel,
et non de pœnis innocentum rideat.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

24 Terra data est in manus impii;
vultum judicum ejus operit.
Quod si non ille est, quis ergo est?

25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

25 Dies mei velociores fuerunt cursore;
fugerunt, et non viderunt bonum.

26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

26 Pertransierunt quasi naves poma portantes;
sicut aquila volans ad escam.

27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

27 Cum dixero: Nequaquam ita loquar:
commuto faciem meam, et dolore torqueor.

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

28 Verebar omnia opera mea,
sciens quod non parceres delinquenti.

29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

29 Si autem et sic impius sum,
quare frustra laboravi?

30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

30 Si lotus fuero quasi aquis nivis,
et fulserint velut mundissimæ manus meæ,

31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

31 tamen sordibus intinges me,
et abominabuntur me vestimenta mea.

32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

32 Neque enim viro qui similis mei est, respondebo;
nec qui mecum in judicio ex æquo possit audiri.

33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

33 Non est qui utrumque valeat arguere,
et ponere manum suam in ambobus.

34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

34 Auferat a me virgam suam,
et pavor ejus non me terreat.

35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

35 Loquar, et non timebo eum;
neque enim possum metuens respondere.