1 But now the younger in time scorn me, whose fathers I would not have set with the dogs of my flock:

2 The strength of whose hands was to me as nothing, and they were thought unworthy of life itself.

3 Barren with want and hunger, who gnawed in the wilderness, disfigured with calamity and misery.

4 And they ate grass, and barks of trees, and the root of junipers was their food.

5 Who snatched up these things out of the valleys, and when they had found any of them, they ran to them with a cry.

6 They dwelt in the desert places of torrents, and in caves of earth, or upon the gravel.

7 They pleased themselves among these kind of things, and counted it delightful to be under the briers.

8 The children of foolish and base men, and not appearing at all upon the earth.

9 Now I am turned into their song, and am become their byword.

10 They abhor me, and flee far from me, and are not afraid to spit in my face.

11 For he hath opened his quiver, and hath afflicted me, and hath put a bridle into my mouth.

12 At the right hand of my rising, my calamities forthwith arose: they have overthrown my feet, and have overwhelmed me with their paths as with waves.

13 They have destroyed my ways, they have lain in wait against me, and they have prevailed, and there was none to help.

14 They have rushed in upon me, as when a wall is broken, and a gate opened, and have rolled themselves down to my miseries.

15 I am brought to nothing: as a wind thou hast taken away my desire: and my prosperity hath passed away like a cloud.

16 And now my soul fadeth within myself, and the days of affliction possess me.

17 In the night my bone is pierced with sorrows: and they that feed upon me, do not sleep.

18 With the multitude of them my garment is consumed, and they have girded me about, as with the collar of my coat.

19 I am compared to dirt, and am likened to embers and ashes.

20 I cry to thee, and thou hearest me not: I stand up, and thou dost not regard me.

21 Thou art changed to be cruel toward me, and in the hardness of thy hand thou art against me.

22 Thou hast lifted me up, and set me as it were upon the wind, and thou hast mightily dashed me.

23 I know that thou wilt deliver me to death, where a house is appointed for every one that liveth.

24 But yet thou stretchest not forth thy hand to their consumption: and if they shall fall down thou wilt save.

25 I wept heretofore for him that was afflicted, and my soul had compassion on the poor.

26 I expected good things, and evils are come upon me: I waited for light, and darkness broke out.

27 My inner parts have boiled without any rest, the days of affliction have prevented me.

28 I went mourning without indignation; I rose up, and cried in the crowd.

29 I was the brother of dragons, and companion of ostriches.

30 My skin is become black upon me, and my bones are dried up with heat.

31 My harp is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of those that weep.

1 Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:

2 Who will grant me, that I might be according to the months past, according to the days in which God kept me?

3 When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in darkness?

4 As I was in the days of my youth, when God was secretly in my tabernacle?

5 When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me?

6 When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil?

7 When I went out to the gate of the city, and in the street they prepared me a chair?

8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the old men rose up and stood.

9 The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth.

10 The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.

11 The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave witness to me:

12 Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the fatherless that had no helper.

13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I comforted the heart of the widow.

14 I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment, as with a robe and a diadem.

15 I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame.

16 I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently.

17 I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey.

18 And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm tree shall multiply my days.

19 My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.

20 My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.

21 They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive held their peace at my counsel.

22 To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them.

23 They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for a latter shower.

24 If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the light of my countenance fell not on earth.

25 If I had a mind to go to them, I sat first, and when I sat as a king, with his army standing about him, yet I was a comforter of them that mourned.

1 Silver hath beginnings of its veins, and gold hath a place wherein it is melted.

2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone melted with heat is turned into brass.

3 He hath set a time for darkness, and the end of all things he considereth, the stone also that is in the dark and the shadow of death.

4 The flood divideth from the people that are on their journey, those whom the food of the needy man hath forgotten, and who cannot be come at.

5 The land, out of which bread grew in its place, hath been overturned with fire.

6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and the clods of it are gold.

7 The bird hath not known the path, neither hath the eye of the vulture beheld it.

8 The children of the merchants have not trodden it, neither hath the lioness passed by it.

9 He hath stretched forth his hand to the flint, he hath overturned mountains from the roots.

10 In the rocks he hath cut out rivers, and his eye hath seen every precious thing.

11 The depths also of rivers he hath searched, and hidden things he hath brought forth to light.

12 But where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?

13 Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of them that live in delights.

14 The depth saith: It is not in me: and the sea saith: It is not with me.

15 The finest gold shall not purchase it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.

16 It shall not be compared with the dyed colours of India, or with the most precious stone sardonyx, or the sapphire.

17 Gold or crystal cannot equal it, neither shall any vessels of gold be changed for it.

18 High and eminent things shall not be mentioned in comparison of it: but wisdom is drawn out of secret places.

19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equal to it, neither shall it be compared to the cleanest dyeing.

20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

21 It is hid from the eyes of all living. and the fowls of the air know it not.

22 Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard the fame thereof.

23 God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place thereof.

24 For he beholdeth the ends of the world: and looketh on all things that are under heaven.

25 Who made a weight for the winds and weighed the waters by measure.

26 When he gave a law for the rain, and a way for the sounding storms.

27 Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared, and searched it.

28 And he said to man: Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil, is understanding.

1 Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:

2 As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment, and the Almighty, who hath brought my soul to bitterness,

3 As long as breath remaineth in me, and the spirit of God in my nostrils,

4 My lips shall not speak iniquity, neither shall my tongue contrive lying.

5 God forbid that I should judge you to be just: till I die I will not depart from my innocence.

6 My justification, which I have begun to hold, I will not forsake: for my heart doth not reprehend me in all my life.

7 Let my enemy be as the ungodly, and my adversary as the wicked one.

8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite if through covetousness he take by violence, and God deliver not his soul?

9 Will God hear his cry, when distress shall come upon him?

10 Or can he delight himself in the Almighty, and call upon God at all times?

11 I will teach you by the hand of God, what the Almighty hath, and I will not conceal it.

12 Behold you all know it, and why do you speak vain things without cause?

13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the inheritance of the violent, which they shall receive of the Almighty.

14 If his sons be multiplied, they shall be for the sword, and his grandsons shall not be filled with bread.

15 They that shall remain of him, shall be buried in death, and his widows shall not weep.

16 If he shall heap together silver as earth, and prepare raiment as clay,

17 He shall prepare indeed, but the just man shall be clothed with it: and the innocent shall divide the silver.

18 He hath built his house as a moth, and as a keeper he hath made a booth.

19 The rich man when he shall sleep shall take away nothing with him: he shall open his eyes and find nothing.

20 Poverty like water shall take hold on him, a tempest shall oppress him in the night. A burning wind shall take him up, and carry him away, and as a whirlwind shall snatch him from his place.

21 And he shall cast upon him, and shall not spare: out of his hand he would willingly flee. He shall clasp his hands upon him, and shall hiss at him, beholding his place.

1 Then Job answered, and said:

2 Whose helper art thou? is it of him that is weak? and dost thou hold up the arm of him that has no strength?

3 To whom hast thou given counsel? perhaps to him that hath no wisdom, and thou hast shewn thy very great prudence.

4 Whom hast thou desired to teach? was it not him that made life?

5 Behold the giants groan under the waters, and they that dwell with them.

6 Hell is naked before him, and there is no covering for destruction.

7 He stretched out the north over the empty space, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

8 He bindeth up the waters in his clouds, so that they break not out and fall down together.

9 He withholdeth the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud over it.

10 He hath set bounds about the waters, till light and darkness come to an end.

11 The pillars of heaven tremble, and dread at his beck.

12 By his power the seas are suddenly gathered together, and his wisdom has struck the proud one.

13 His spirit hath adorned the heavens, and his obstetric hand brought forth the winding serpent.

14 Lo, these things are said in part of his ways: and seeing we have heard scarce a little drop of his word, who shall be able to behold the thunder of his greatness?

1 Then Baldad the Suhite answered, and I said:

2 Power and terror are with him, who maketh peace in his high places.

3 Is there any numbering of his soldiers? and upon whom shall not his light arise?

4 Can man be justified compared with God, or he that is born of a woman appear clean?

5 Behold even the moon doth not shine, and the stars are not pure in his sight.

6 How much less man that is rottenness and the son of man who is a worm?

1 Times are not hid from the Almighty: but they that know him, know not his days.

2 Some have removed landmarks, have taken away flocks by force, and fed them.

3 They have driven away the ass of the fatherless, and have taken away the widow’s ox for a pledge.

4 They have overturned the way of the poor, and have oppressed together the meek of the earth.

5 Others like wild asses in the desert go forth to their work: by watching for a prey they get bread for their children.

6 They reap the field that is not their own, and gather the vintage of his vineyard whom by violence they have oppressed.

7 They send men away naked, taking away their clothes who have no covering in the cold:

8 Who are wet, with the showers of the mountains, and having no covering embrace the stones.

9 They have violently robbed the fatherless, and stripped the poor common people.

10 From the naked and them that go without clothing, and from the hungry they have taken away the ears of corn.

11 They have taken their rest at noon among the stores of them, who after having trodden the winepresses suffer thirst.

12 Out of the cities they have made men to groan, and the soul of the wounded hath cried out, and God doth not suffer it to pass unrevenged.

13 They have been rebellious to the light, they have not known his ways, neither have they returned by his paths.

14 The murderer riseth at the very break of day, he killeth the needy, and the poor man: but in the night he will be as a thief.

15 The eye of the adulterer observeth darkness, saying: No eye shall see me: and he will cover his face.

16 He diggeth through houses in the dark, as in the day they had appointed for themselves, and they have not known the light.

17 If the morning suddenly appear, it is to them the shadow of death: and they walk in darkness as if it were in light.

18 He is light upon the face of the water: cursed be his portion on the earth, let him not walk by the way of the vineyards.

19 Let him pass from the snow waters to excessive heat, and his sin even to hell.

20 Let mercy forget him: may worms be his sweetness: let him be remembered no more, but be broken in pieces as an unfruitful tree.

21 For he hath fed the barren that beareth not, and to the widow he hath done no good.

22 He hath pulled down the strong by his might: and when he standeth up, he shall not trust to his life.

23 God hath given him place for penance, and he abuseth it unto pride: but his eyes are upon his ways.

24 They are lifted up for a little while and shall not stand, and shall be brought down as all things, and shall be taken away, and as the tops of the ears of corn they shall be broken.

25 And if it be not so, who can convince me that I have lied, and set my words before God?

1 Then Job answered, and said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 If 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 Then Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said:

2 Can man be compared with God, even though he were of perfect knowledge?

3 What doth it profit God if thou be just? or what dost thou give him if thy way be unspotted?

4 Shall he reprove thee for fear, and come with thee into judgment:

5 And not for thy manifold wickedness, and thy infinite iniquities?

6 For thou hast taken away the pledge of thy brethren without cause, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 Thou hast not given water to the weary, thou hast withdrawn bread from the hungry.

8 In the strength of thy arm thou didst possess the land, and being the most mighty thou holdest it.

9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless thou hast broken in pieces.

10 Therefore art thou surrounded with snares, and sudden fear troubleth thee.

11 And didst thou think that thou shouldst not see darkness, and that thou shouldst not be covered with the violence of overflowing waters?

12 Dost not thou think that God is higher than heaven, and is elevated above the height of the stars?

13 And thou sayst: What doth God know? and he judgeth as it were through a mist.

14 The clouds are his covert, and he doth not consider our things, and he walketh about the poles of heaven.

15 Dost thou desire to keep the path of ages, which wicked men have trodden?

16 Who were taken away before their time, and a flood hath overthrown their foundation.

17 Who said to God: Depart from us: and looked upon the Almighty as if he could do nothing:

18 Whereas he had filled their houses with good things: whose way of thinking be far from me.

19 The just shall see, and shall rejoice, and the innocent shall laugh them to scorn.

20 Is not their exaltation cut down, and hath not fire devoured the remnants of them?

21 Submit thyself then to him, and be at peace: and thereby thou shalt have the best fruits.

22 Receive the law of his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart.

23 If thou wilt return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, and shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacle.

24 He shall give for earth flint, and for flint torrents of gold.

25 And the Almighty shall be against thy enemies, and silver shall be heaped together for thee.

26 Then shalt thou abound in delights in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face to God.

27 Thou shalt pray to him, and he will hear thee, and thou shalt pay vows.

28 Thou shalt decree a thing, and it I shall come to thee, and light shall shine in thy ways.

29 For he that hath been humbled, shall be in glory: and he that shall bow down his eyes, he shall be saved.

30 The innocent shall be saved, and he shall be saved by the cleanness of his hands.

1 Then Job answered, and said:

2 Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.

3 Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.

4 Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?

5 Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.

6 As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

7 Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?

8 Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.

9 Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.

10 Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.

11 Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.

12 They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell.

14 Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit us if we pray to him?

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 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.

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 destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

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 one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?

23 One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.

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:

26 And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.

27 Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.

28 For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

29 Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.

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 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 heap of the dead.

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 then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?