Jó 23

VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Respondens autem Job, ait :	1 Job spoke next. He said:
2 Nunc quoque in amaritudine est sermo meus, et manus plagæ meæ aggravata est super gemitum meum.	2 My lament is stil rebellious; despite my groans, his hand is just as heavy.
3 Quis mihi tribuat ut cognoscam et inveniam illum, et veniam usque ad solium ejus ?	3 Wil no one help me to know how to travel to his dwel ing?
4 Ponam coram eo judicium, et os meum replebo increpationibus :	4 I should set out my case to him, advancing any number of grievances.
5 ut sciam verba quæ mihi respondeat, et intelligam quid loquatur mihi.	5 Then I could learn his defence, every word of it, taking note of everything he said to me.
6 Nolo multa fortitudine contendat mecum, nec magnitudinis suæ mole me premat.	6 Would he put al his strength into this debate with me? No, he would only have to give his attention tome,
7 Proponat æquitatem contra me, et perveniat ad victoriam judicium meum.	7 to recognise his opponent as upright and so I should win my case for ever.
8 Si ad orientem iero, non apparet ; si ad occidentem, non intelligam eum.	8 If I go to the east, he is not there; or to the west, I stil cannot see him.
9 Si ad sinistram, quid agam ? non apprehendam eum ; si me vertam ad dexteram, non videbo illum.	9 If I seek him in the north, he is not to be found, invisible as ever, if I turn to the south.
10 Ipse vero scit viam meam, et probavit me quasi aurum quod per ignem transit.	10 And yet he knows every step I take! Let him test me in the crucible: I shall come out pure gold.
11 Vestigia ejus secutus est pes meus : viam ejus custodivi, et non declinavi ex ea.	11 My footsteps have fol owed close in his, I have walked in his way without swerving;
12 A mandatis labiorum ejus non recessi, et in sinu meo abscondi verba oris ejus.	12 I have not neglected the commandment of his lips, in my heart I have cherished the words of hismouth.
13 Ipse enim solus est, et nemo avertere potest cogitationem ejus : et anima ejus quodcumque voluit, hoc fecit.	13 But once he has made up his mind, who can change it? Whatever he plans, that he carries out.
14 Cum expleverit in me voluntatem suam, et alia multa similia præsto sunt ei.	14 No doubt, then, but he wil carry out my sentence, like so many other decrees that he has made.
15 Et idcirco a facie ejus turbatus sum, et considerans eum, timore sollicitor.	15 That is why I am ful of fear before him, and the more I think, the greater grows my dread of him.
16 Deus mollivit cor meum, et Omnipotens conturbavit me.	16 God has undermined my courage, Shaddai has filled me with fear.
17 Non enim perii propter imminentes tenebras, nec faciem meam operuit caligo.	17 The darkness having failed to destroy me, I am plunged back into obscurity by him!