1 ου μην δε αλλα ακουσον ιωβ τα ρηματα μου και λαλιαν ενωτιζου μου | 1 So, Job, please listen to my words and attend to al I have to say. |
2 ιδου γαρ ηνοιξα το στομα μου και ελαλησεν η γλωσσα μου | 2 Now as I open my mouth, and my tongue shapes words against my palate, |
3 καθαρα μου η καρδια ρημασιν συνεσις δε χειλεων μου καθαρα νοησει | 3 I shal utter words of wisdom from the heart, my lips will speak in all sincerity. |
4 πνευμα θειον το ποιησαν με πνοη δε παντοκρατορος η διδασκουσα με | 4 God's was the spirit that made me, Shaddai's the breath that gave me life. |
5 εαν δυνη δος μοι αποκρισιν προς ταυτα υπομεινον στηθι κατ' εμε και εγω κατα σε | 5 Refute me, if you can. Prepare yourself, take up your position! |
6 εκ πηλου διηρτισαι συ ως και εγω εκ του αυτου διηρτισμεθα | 6 Look, I am your equal, not some god, like you I was moulded out of clay. |
7 ουχ ο φοβος μου σε στροβησει ουδε η χειρ μου βαρεια εσται επι σοι | 7 No fear of me, therefore, need affright you, my hand wil not lie heavy over you. |
8 πλην ειπας εν ωσιν μου φωνην ρηματων σου ακηκοα | 8 How could you say in my hearing -- for the sound of your words did not escape me- |
9 διοτι λεγεις καθαρος ειμι ουχ αμαρτων αμεμπτος δε ειμι ου γαρ ηνομησα | 9 'I am clean, and sinless, I am pure, without fault. |
10 μεμψιν δε κατ' εμου ευρεν ηγηται δε με ωσπερ υπεναντιον | 10 But he keeps inventing excuses against me and regards me as his enemy. |
11 εθετο δε εν ξυλω τον ποδα μου εφυλαξεν δε μου πασας τας οδους | 11 He puts me in the stocks, he watches my every path'? |
12 πως γαρ λεγεις δικαιος ειμι και ουκ επακηκοεν μου αιωνιος γαρ εστιν ο επανω βροτων | 12 In saying so, I tel you, you are wrong: for God is greater than any human being. |
13 λεγεις δε δια τι της δικης μου ουκ επακηκοεν παν ρημα | 13 Why then quarrel with him for not replying to you, word for word? |
14 εν γαρ τω απαξ λαλησαι ο κυριος εν δε τω δευτερω ενυπνιον | 14 God speaks first in one way, and then in another, although we do not realise it. |
15 η εν μελετη νυκτερινη ως οταν επιπιπτη δεινος φοβος επ' ανθρωπους επι νυσταγματων επι κοιτης | 15 In dreams and in night-visions, when slumber has settled on humanity and people are asleep in bed, |
16 τοτε ανακαλυπτει νουν ανθρωπων εν ειδεσιν φοβου τοιουτοις αυτους εξεφοβησεν | 16 he speaks in someone's ear, frightens him with apparitions |
17 αποστρεψαι ανθρωπον εξ αδικιας το δε σωμα αυτου απο πτωματος ερρυσατο | 17 to turn him from what he is doing and to put an end to his pride. |
18 εφεισατο δε της ψυχης αυτου απο θανατου και μη πεσειν αυτον εν πολεμω | 18 And thus he preserves his soul from the abyss, his life from passing down the Canal. |
19 παλιν δε ηλεγξεν αυτον εν μαλακια επι κοιτης και πληθος οστων αυτου εναρκησεν | 19 Or again, he corrects by the sufferings of the sick-bed, when someone's bones tremble continuously |
20 παν δε βρωτον σιτου ου μη δυνηται προσδεξασθαι και η ψυχη αυτου βρωσιν επιθυμησει | 20 and the thought of food revolts him, however tasty it is, |
21 εως αν σαπωσιν αυτου αι σαρκες και αποδειξη τα οστα αυτου κενα | 21 and his flesh rots away while you watch it and the bones beneath begin to show, |
22 ηγγισεν δε εις θανατον η ψυχη αυτου η δε ζωη αυτου εν αδη | 22 and his soul is drawing nearer to the abyss and his life to the dwel ing of the dead. |
23 εαν ωσιν χιλιοι αγγελοι θανατηφοροι εις αυτων ου μη τρωση αυτον εαν νοηση τη καρδια επιστραφηναι επι κυριον αναγγειλη δε ανθρωπω την εαυτου μεμψιν την δε ανοιαν αυτου δειξη | 23 Then, if there is an Angel near him, a Mediator, one in a thousand, to remind him where his duty lies, |
24 ανθεξεται του μη πεσειν αυτον εις θανατον ανανεωσει δε αυτου το σωμα ωσπερ αλοιφην επι τοιχου τα δε οστα αυτου εμπλησει μυελου | 24 to take pity on him and to say, 'Spare him from going down to the abyss: I have found the ransom forhis life,' |
25 απαλυνει δε αυτου τας σαρκας ωσπερ νηπιου αποκαταστησει δε αυτον ανδρωθεντα εν ανθρωποις | 25 his flesh wil recover its childhood freshness, he wil return to the days of his youth. |
26 ευξαμενος δε προς κυριον και δεκτα αυτω εσται εισελευσεται δε προσωπω καθαρω συν εξηγορια αποδωσει δε ανθρωποις δικαιοσυνην | 26 He wil pray to God who has restored him to favour, and wil come into his presence with joy. He wiltel others how he has received saving justice |
27 ειτα τοτε απομεμψεται ανθρωπος αυτος εαυτω λεγων οια συνετελουν και ουκ αξια ητασεν με ων ημαρτον | 27 and sing this hymn before his companions, 'I sinned and left the path of right, but God has notpunished me as my sin deserved. |
28 σωσον ψυχην μου του μη ελθειν εις διαφθοραν και η ζωη μου φως οψεται | 28 He has spared my soul from going down to the abyss and is making my life see the light.' |
29 ιδου παντα ταυτα εργαται ο ισχυρος οδους τρεις μετα ανδρος | 29 All this is what God keeps doing again and yet again for human beings, |
30 αλλ' ερρυσατο την ψυχην μου εκ θανατου ινα η ζωη μου εν φωτι αινη αυτον | 30 to snatch souls back from the abyss and to make the light of the living stil shine. |
31 ενωτιζου ιωβ και ακουε μου κωφευσον και εγω ειμι λαλησω | 31 Pay attention, Job, listen to me: keep quiet, I have more to say. |
32 ει εισιν λογοι αποκριθητι μοι λαλησον θελω γαρ δικαιωθηναι σε | 32 If you have anything to say, refute me, speak out, for I would gladly accept that you are upright. |
33 ει μη συ ακουσον μου κωφευσον και διδαξω σε σοφιαν | 33 If not, then listen to me: keep quiet, and I wil teach you wisdom. |