Liber Job

Militia est vita hominis super terram, et sicut dies mercenarii dies ejus.

The life of man upon earth is a warfare, and his days are like the days of a hireling.

Militia es vita de homine super terra, et sicut dies mercenarios dies de illo.

Sicut servus desiderat umbram, et sicut mercenarius præstolatur finem operis sui,

As a servant longeth for the shade, as the hireling looketh for the end of his work;

Sicut servo desidera umbra, et sicut mercenario praestolor fine de opere suo,

sic et ego habui menses vacuos, et noctes laboriosas enumeravi mihi.

So I also have had empty months, and have numbered to myself wearisome nights.

Sic et me habe menses vacvo, et noctes laborioso enumera ad me.

Si dormiero, dicam: Quando consurgam? et rursum expectabo vesperam, et replebor doloribus usque ad tenebras.

If I lie down to sleep, I shall say: When shall I rise? and again, I shall look for the evening, and shall be filled with sorrows even till darkness.

Si dormi, dic: quando consurge? Et iterum expecta vespera, et reple ad dolores usque ad tenebras.

Induta est caro mea putredine, et sordibus pulveris cutis mea aruit et contracta est.

My flesh is clothed with rottenness and the filth of dust; my skin is withered and drawn together.

Induta es carne meo putredine, et sordes de pulvere de cute meo are et contrahe es.

Dies mei velocius transierunt quam a texente tela succiditur, et consumpti sunt absque ulla spe.

My days have passed more swiftly than the web is cut by the weaver, and are consumed without any hope.

Dies meo veloce transi quam ab texe telos succide, et consume es absque ullo spe.

Memento quia ventus est vita mea, et non revertetur oculus meus ut videat bona.

Remember that my life is but wind, and my eye shall not return to see good things.

Mene quia vento es vita meo, et non oculo meo reverte ut vide bono.

Nec aspiciet me visus hominis; oculi tui in me, et non subsistam.

Nor shall the sight of man behold me: thy eyes are upon me, and I shall be no more.

Nec aspice me viso de homine; oculo tuo in me, et non subsiste.

Sicut consumitur nubes, et pertransit, sic qui descenderit ad inferos, non ascendet.

As a cloud is consumed, and passeth away: so he that shall go down to hell shall not come up.

Sicut nube consume, et pertransi, sic qui descende ad infero, non ascende.

Nec revertetur ultra in domum suam, neque cognoscet eum amplius locus ejus.

Nor shall he return any more into his house, neither shall his place know him any more

Nec reverte ultra in domo suo, neque loco de illo ample cognosce illo.

Quapropter et ego non parcam ori meo: loquar in tribulatione spiritus mei; confabulabor cum amaritudine animæ meæ.

Wherefore, I will not spare my mouth, I will speak in the affliction of my spirit: I will talk with the bitterness of my soul.

Quapropter et me non parce ad ore meo: loque in tribulatione de spiritu meo; confabulor cum amaritudine de anima meo.

Numquid mare ego sum, aut cetus, quia circumdedisti me carcere?

Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou hast enclosed me in a prison?

Numquid mari me es, aut ceto, quia circumda me carcere?

Si dixero: Consolabitur me lectulus meus, et relevabor loquens mecum in strato meo:

If I say: My bed shall comfort me, and I shall be relieved, speaking with myself on my couch:

Si dic: lectulo meo consola me, et releva loquente mecum in strato meo:

terrebis me per somnia, et per visiones horrore concuties.

Thou wilt frighten me with dreams, and terrify me with visions.

Terre me per somnios, et per visiones horrore concutie.

Quam ob rem elegit suspendium anima mea, et mortem ossa mea.

So that my soul rather chooseth hanging, and my bones death.

Quam ob rem anima meo elige suspendio, et morte ores meo.

Desperavi: nequaquam ultra jam vivam: parce mihi, nihil enim sunt dies mei.

I have done with hope, I shall now live no longer: spare me, for my days are nothing.

Fespera: nequaquam ultra jam vive: parce ad me, nihil nam es dies meo.

Quid est homo, quia magnificas eum? aut quid apponis erga eum cor tuum?

What is a man, that thou shouldst magnify him or why dost thou set thy heart upon him?

Quid es homine, quia magnifica illo? Aut quid appone erga illo corde tuo?

Visitas eum diluculo, et subito probas illum.

Thou visitest him early in the morning, and thou provest him suddenly.

Vide illo diluculo, et subito proba illo.

Usquequo non parcis mihi, nec dimittis me ut glutiam salivam meam?

How long wilt thou not spare me, nor suffer me to swallow down my spittle?

Usquequo non parce ad me, nec dimitte me ut glutia saliva meo?

Peccavi; quid faciam tibi, o custos hominum? quare posuisti me contrarium tibi, et factus sum mihimetipsi gravis?

I have sinned: what shall I do to thee, O keeper of men? why hast thou set me opposite to thee. and am I become burdensome to myself?

Pecca; quid fac ad te, o custode de homines? Quare pone me contrario ad te, et facto es de mihimetipo gravi?

Cur non tollis peccatum meum, et quare non aufers iniquitatem meam? ecce nunc in pulvere dormiam, et si mane me quæsieris, non subsistam.

Why dost thou not remove my sin, and why dost thou not take away my iniquity? Behold now I shall sleep in the dust: and if thou seek me in the morning, I shall not be.

Quare non tolle peccato meo, et quare non aufer iniquitate meo? Ecce nunc in pulvere dormi, et si mane me quaere, non subsiste.