Job 31
1 Pepigi fœdus cum oculis meis ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine.
I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then should I look with desire on a virgin?
2 Quam enim partem haberet in me Deus desuper, et hereditatem Omnipotens de excelsis?
For what is the portion from God above, the inheritance from the Almighty on high?
3 Numquid non perditio est iniquo, et alienatio operantibus iniustitiam?
I used to think that calamity is for unrighteous people, and that disaster is for doers of wickedness.
4 Nonne ipse considerat vias meas, et cunctos gressus meos dinumerat?
Does not God see my ways and count all my steps?
5 Si ambulavi in vanitate, et festinavit in dolo pes meus:
If I have walked with falsehood, if my foot has hurried to deceit,
6 Appendat me in statera iusta, et sciat Deus simplicitatem meam.
let me be weighed in an even balance so that God will know my integrity.
7 Si declinavit gressus meus de via, et si secutum est oculos meos cor meum, et si manibus meis adhæsit macula:
If my step has turned aside from the way, if my heart has gone after my eyes, if any spot has stuck to my hands,
8 Seram, et alium comedat: et progenies mea eradicetur.
then let me sow, and let another eat, and let my crops be uprooted.
9 Si deceptum est cor meum super muliere, et si ad ostium amici mei insidiatus sum:
If my heart has been deceived by a woman, if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,
10 Scortum alterius sit uxor mea, et super illam incurventur alii.
then let my wife grind grain for another, and let others bow down on her.
11 Hoc enim nefas est, et iniquitas maxima.
For that would be a terrible crime; indeed, it would be a crime to be punished by judges.
12 Ignis est usque ad perditionem devorans, et omnia eradicans genimina.
For that is a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn all my harvest to the root.
13 Si contempsi subire iudicium cum servo meo, et ancilla mea, cum disceptarent adversum me:
If I ignored the plea for justice from my male or female servant when they argued with me,
14 Quid enim faciam cum surrexerit ad iudicandum Deus? et cum quæsierit, quid respondebo illi?
what then would I do when God rises up to accuse me? When he comes to judge me, how would I answer him?
15 Numquid non in utero fecit me qui et illum operatus est: et formavit me in vulva unus?
Did the one who made me in the womb not make them also? Did not the same one mold us all in the womb?
16 Si negavi, quod volebant, pauperibus, et oculos viduæ expectare feci:
If I have withheld poor people from their desire, or if I have caused the eyes of the widow to grow dim from crying,
17 Si comedi buccellam meam solus, et non comedit pupillus ex ea:
or if I have eaten my morsel alone and not allowed those without fathers to eat it also—
18 (Quia ab infantia mea crevit mecum miseratio: et de utero matris meæ egressa est mecum.)
because from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided his mother, a widow, from my own mother's womb.
19 Si despexi pereuntem, eo quod non habuerit indumentum, et absque operimento pauperem:
If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or if I have seen that a needy man had no clothing;
20 Si non benedixerunt mihi latera eius, et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est:
if his heart has not blessed me because he has not been warmed with the wool of my sheep,
21 Si levavi super pupillum manum meam, etiam cum viderem me in porta superiorem:
if I have lifted up my hand against fatherless people because I saw my support in the city gate, then bring charges against me!
22 Humerus meus a iunctura sua cadat, et brachium meum cum suis ossibus confringatur.
If I have done these things, then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, and let my arm be broken from its joint.
23 Semper enim quasi tumentes super me fluctus timui Deum, et pondus eius ferre non potui.
For I dreaded destruction from God; because of his majesty, I was not able to do those things.
24 Si putavi aurum robur meum, et obrizo dixi: Fiducia mea.
If I have made gold my hope, and if I have said to fine gold, 'You are what I am confident in';
25 Si lætatus sum super multis divitiis meis, et quia plurima reperit manus mea.
if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, because my hand had gotten many possessions, then bring charges against me!
26 Si vidi solem cum fulgeret, et lunam incedentem clare:
If I have seen the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in its brightness,
27 Et lætatum est in abscondito cor meum, et osculatus sum manum meam ore meo.
and if my heart has been secretly attracted, so that my mouth has kissed my hand in worship of them—
28 Quæ est iniquitas maxima, et negatio contra Deum altissimum.
this also would be a crime to be punished by judges, for I would have denied the God who is above.
29 Si gavisus sum ad ruinam eius, qui me oderat, et exultavi quod invenisset eum malum.
If I have rejoiced at the destruction of anyone who hated me or congratulated myself when disaster overtook him, then bring charges against me!
30 Non enim dedi ad peccandum guttur meum, ut expeterem maledicens animam eius.
Indeed, I have not even allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse.
31 Si non dixerunt viri tabernaculi mei: Quis det de carnibus eius ut saturemur:
If the men of my tent have never said, 'Who can find one who has not been filled with Job's food?'
32 Foris non mansit peregrinus, ostium meum viatori patuit.
(even the foreigner has never had to stay in the city square, because I have always opened my doors to the traveler), and if that is not so, then bring charges against me!
33 Si abscondi quasi homo peccatum meum, et celavi in sinu meo iniquitatem meam.
If, like mankind, I have hidden my sins by hiding my guilt inside my tunic
34 Si expavi ad multitudinem nimiam, et despectio propinquorum terruit me: et non magis tacui, nec egressus sum ostium.
(because I feared the great multitude, because the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside), then bring charges against me!
35 Quis mihi tribuat auditorem, ut desiderium meum audiat Omnipotens: et librum scribat ipse qui iudicat.
Oh, if only I had someone to hear me! See, here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me! If only I had the indictment that my opponent has written!
36 Ut in humero meo portem illum, et circumdem illum quasi coronam mihi?
Surely I would carry it openly on my shoulder; I would put it on like a crown.
37 Per singulos gradus meos pronunciabo illum, et quasi principi offeram eum.
I would declare to him an accounting for my steps; as a confident prince I would go up to him.
38 Si adversum me terra mea clamat, et cum ipsa sulci eius deflent:
If my land ever cries out against me, and its furrows weep together,
39 Si fructus eius comedi absque pecunia, et animam agricolarum eius afflixi:
if I have eaten its harvest without paying for it or have caused its owners to lose their lives,
40 Pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus, et pro hordeo spina. (Finita sunt verba Iob.)
then let thorns grow instead of wheat and weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are finished.
