1 But Job answering, said:
1 Then Job answered, and said:
2 Hear I beseech you my words, and do penance.
2 Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.
3 Bear with me, that I also may speak, and after my words, if it shall seem good, laugh ye.
3 Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.
4 Is my disputation against man, that I ought not worthily to be sorry?
4 Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?
5 Harken to me, and be astonished, and put the finger upon your mouth.
5 Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.
6 And I when I shall remember, am afraid, and trembling shaketh my flesh.
6 As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Why then do the impious live, are they advanced, & strengthened with riches?
7 ¹Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?
8 Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, & of nephews in their sight.
8 Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.
9 Their houses be secure & peaceable, & the rod of God is not upon them.
9 Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.
10 Their bullock hath conceived, & hath not made abortion: their cow hath calved, and is not deprived of her calf.
10 Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.
11 Their little ones go forth as flocks, and their infants rejoice with pastimes.
11 Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.
12 They hold the timbrel, & the harp, & rejoice at the sound of the organ.
12 They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
13 They lead their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell.
13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell.
14 Who said to God: depart from us, we will not the knowledge of thy ways.
14 Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15 Who is the Omnipotent, that we should serve him? And what doth it profit us if we shall pray him?
15 ²Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what doth it profit us if we pray to him?
16 But yet because their good things are not in their hand, be the counsel of the impious far from me.
16 Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
17 How often shall the candle of the impious be extinguished, and inundation come upon them, and shall he divide the sorrows of his fury?
17 How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath?
18 They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes, which the whirlwind scattereth.
18 They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.
19 God shall reserve the sorrow of the father to his children: and when he shall have rendered it, then shall he know.
19 God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.
20 His eyes shall see his own slaughter, and he shall drink the fury of the Omnipotent.
20 His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what doeth it pertain to him concerning his house after him: although the number of his months be diminished the half?
21 For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?
22 Shall any man teach God knowledge, who judgeth the high ones?
22 Shall anyone teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?
23 This man dieth strong and in health, rich and happy.
23 One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.
24 His bowels be full of fat, and his bones be embrued with marrow.
24 His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:
25 But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:
26 And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.
26 And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.
27 Surely I know your cogitations, & unjust sentences against me.
27 Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.
28 For you say: Where is the house of the Prince? & where are the tabernacles of the impious?
28 For you say: Where is the house of the prince? And where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Ask any of the wayfaring men, & you shall understand that he knoweth these self-same things.
29 Ask anyone of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.
30 Because the evil man is kept unto the day of perdition, and he shall be led to the day of fury.
30 Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.
31 Who shall reprove his way before him? And who shall repay him the things that he hath done?
31 Who shall reprove his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the head of the dead.
32 He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.
33 He hath been sweet to the gravel of Cocytus, and after him he shall draw every man, and before him innumerable.
33 He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him.
34 How therefore do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewed to be repugnant to the truth?
34 How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shown to be repugnant to truth?