约伯传 8

1The Baldad the Suhite answered, and said:

2How long wilt thou speak these things, and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

3Doth God pervert judgment, or doth the Almighty overthrow that which is just?

4Although thy children have sinned against him, and he hath left them in the hand of their iniquity:

5Yet if thou wilt arise early to God, and wilt beseech the Almighty:

6If thou wilt walk clean and upright, he will presently awake onto thee, and will make the dwelling of thy justice peaceable:

7Insomuch, that if thy former things were small, thy latter things would be multiplied exceedingly.

8For inquire of the former generation, and search diligently into the memory of the fathers:

9(For we are but of yesterday, and are ignorant that our days upon earth are but a shadow:)

10And they shall teach thee: they shall speak to thee, and utter words out of their hearts.

11Can the rush be green without moisture? or a sedge-bush grow without water?

12When it is yet in flower, and is not plucked up with the hand, it withereth before all herbs.

13Even so are the ways of all that forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite shall perish:

14His folly shall not please him, and his trust shall be like the spider’s web.

15He shall lean upon his house, and it shall not stand: he shall prop it up, and it shall not rise:

16He seemeth to have moisture before the sun cometh, and at his rising his blossom shall shoot forth.

17His roots shall be thick upon a heap of stones, and among the stones he shall abide.

18If one swallow him up out of his place, he shall deny him, and shall say: I know thee not.

19For this is the joy of his way, that others may spring again out of the earth.

20God will not cast away the simple, nor reach out his hand to the evildoer:

21Until thy mouth be filled with laughter, and thy lips with rejoicing.

22They that hate thee, shall be clothed with confusion: and the dwelling of the wicked shall not stand.

1Respondens autem Baldad Suhites, dixit:

2[Usquequo loqueris talia, et spiritus multiplex sermones oris tui?

3Numquid Deus supplantat judicium? aut Omnipotens subvertit quod justum est?

4Etiam si filii tui peccaverunt ei, et dimisit eos in manu iniquitatis suæ:

5tu tamen si diluculo consurrexeris ad Deum, et Omnipotentem fueris deprecatus;

6si mundus et rectus incesseris: statim evigilabit ad te, et pacatum reddet habitaculum justitiæ tuæ,

7in tantum ut si priora tua fuerint parva, et novissima tua multiplicentur nimis.

8Interroga enim generationem pristinam, et diligenter investiga patrum memoriam

9(hesterni quippe sumus, et ignoramus, quoniam sicut umbra dies nostri sunt super terram),

10et ipsi docebunt te, loquentur tibi, et de corde suo proferent eloquia.

11Numquid vivere potest scirpus absque humore? aut crescere carectum sine aqua?

12Cum adhuc sit in flore, nec carpatur manu, ante omnes herbas arescit.

13Sic viæ omnium qui obliviscuntur Deum, et spes hypocritæ peribit.

14Non ei placebit vecordia sua, et sicut tela aranearum fiducia ejus.

15Innitetur super domum suam, et non stabit; fulciet eam, et non consurget.

16Humectus videtur antequam veniat sol, et in ortu suo germen ejus egredietur.

17Super acervum petrarum radices ejus densabuntur, et inter lapides commorabitur.

18Si absorbuerit eum de loco suo, negabit eum, et dicet: Non novi te.

19Hæc est enim lætitia viæ ejus, ut rursum de terra alii germinentur.

20Deus non projiciet simplicem, nec porriget manum malignis,

21donec impleatur risu os tuum, et labia tua jubilo.

22Qui oderunt te induentur confusione, et tabernaculum impiorum non subsistet.]

1But Baldad the Suhite, responding, said:

2How long will you speak this way, so that the words of your mouth are like a changeable wind?

3Does God supplant judgment, or does the Almighty subvert that which is just?

4And if now your children have sinned against him, and he has dismissed them into the power of their iniquity,

5even so, you should arise early to God, so as to beseech the Almighty.

6If you approach with purity and honesty, he will quickly be attentive to you, and a peaceful life will repay your righteousness,

7so much so that, if your former things were small, your latter things would be multiplied greatly.

8For inquire of the earliest generation, and investigate diligently the history of the fathers,

9(of course, we are but of yesterday and are ignorant that our days on earth are like a shadow,)

10and they will teach you; they will speak with you and will offer you the eloquence of their hearts.

11Can the marsh plant live without moisture? Or can sedges grow without water?

12When it is still in flower, and has not been pulled up by hand, it withers before all other plants.

13Just so are the ways of all who forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite will perish.

14His frenzy will not please him, and his faith will be like a spider’s web.

15He will lean on his house, and it will not stand; he will prop it up, but it will not rise.

16He seems to have moisture before the sun arrives; and at sunrise, his sprout shoots forth.

17His roots will crowd together over a heap of stones, and among the stones he will remain.

18If someone is devoured right beside him, he will deny him and will say: “I do not know you.”

19For this is the benefit of his way, that others in turn may spring up from the earth.

20God will not discard the simple, nor will he extend his hand to the spiteful,

21even until your mouth is filled with laughter and your lips with rejoicing.

22Those who hate you, will be clothed with confusion, and the tabernacle of the impious will not continue.