Job 23

Clementine Vulgate, 1598

Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)

1Respondens autem Job, ait:

1Then Job answered, and said:

2[Nunc quoque in amaritudine est sermo meus, et manus plagæ meæ aggravata est super gemitum meum.

2Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge is more grievous than my mourning.

3Quis mihi tribuat ut cognoscam et inveniam illum, et veniam usque ad solium ejus?

3Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and come even to his throne?

4Ponam coram eo judicium, et os meum replebo increpationibus:

4I would set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with complaints.

5ut sciam verba quæ mihi respondeat, et intelligam quid loquatur mihi.

5That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

6Nolo multa fortitudine contendat mecum, nec magnitudinis suæ mole me premat.

6I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, nor overwhelm me with the weight of his greatness.

7Proponat æquitatem contra me, et perveniat ad victoriam judicium meum.

7Let him propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to victory.

8Si ad orientem iero, non apparet; si ad occidentem, non intelligam eum.

8But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I shall not understand him.

9Si ad sinistram, quid agam? non apprehendam eum; si me vertam ad dexteram, non videbo illum.

9If to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall not see him.

10Ipse vero scit viam meam, et probavit me quasi aurum quod per ignem transit.

10But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire:

11Vestigia ejus secutus est pes meus: viam ejus custodivi, et non declinavi ex ea.

11My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have not declined from it.

12A mandatis labiorum ejus non recessi, et in sinu meo abscondi verba oris ejus.

12I have not departed from the commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom.

13Ipse enim solus est, et nemo avertere potest cogitationem ejus: et anima ejus quodcumque voluit, hoc fecit.

13For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever is soul hath desired, that hath he done.

14Cum expleverit in me voluntatem suam, et alia multa similia præsto sunt ei.

14And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him.

15Et idcirco a facie ejus turbatus sum, et considerans eum, timore sollicitor.

15And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him I am made pensive with fear.

16Deus mollivit cor meum, et Omnipotens conturbavit me.

16God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me.

17Non enim perii propter imminentes tenebras, nec faciem meam operuit caligo.]

17For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face.

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