Job 23

Clementine Vulgate, 1598

World English Bible

1Respondens autem Job, ait:

1Then Job answered,

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

2“Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.

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

3Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

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

4I would set my cause in order before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

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

5I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.

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

6Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.

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

7There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge.

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

8“If I go east, he is not there. If I go west, I can’t find him.

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

9He works to the north, but I can’t see him. He turns south, but I can’t catch a glimpse of him.

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

10But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I will come out like gold.

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

11My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned away.

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

12I haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

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

13But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

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

14For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.

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

15Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.

16Deus mollivit cor meum, et Omnipotens conturbavit me.

16For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me.

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

17Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.

Tip: use the ← and → keys to turn chapters.