Old/New Testament
8 Then Bildad (the) Shuhite answered, and said,
2 How long shalt thou speak such things? The spirit of the word of thy mouth is manyfold (The many words from thy mouth be just so much wind).
3 Whether God supplanteth, either deceiveth, doom, and whether Almighty God destroyeth that, that is just? (Did God ever pervert judgement, and did Almighty God ever destroy what is fair?)
4 Yea, though thy sons sinned against him, and he left them in the hand of their wickedness;
5 nevertheless, if thou risest early to God, and beseechest Almighty God,
6 if thou goest clean and rightful, anon he shall wake fully to thee, and shall make peaceable the dwelling place of thy rightfulness; (if thou goest clean and upright, at once he shall watch over thee, and he shall make the dwelling place of thy righteousness prosperous;)
7 in so much that thy former things were little, and that thy last things be multiplied greatly. (in so much that though thy first things were few, but thy last things shall be greatly multiplied.)
8 For why, ask thou the former generations, and seek thou diligently the mind of [the] fathers (and diligently seek thou the wisdom of the forefathers).
9 For we be men of yesterday, and know not (anything); for our days be as (a) shadow on the earth.
10 And they shall teach thee, [and] they shall speak to thee, and (out) of their heart they shall bring forth true speeches (and they shall bring forth truth from their hearts).
11 Whether a (bul)rush may grow without moisture? either a reed (can grow) without water?
12 When it is yet in the flower, neither it is taken with hand, it waxeth dry before all herbs. (When it is still flowering, and it hath not yet been picked by hand, it groweth dry before all the other plants.)
13 So be the ways of all men, that forget God (who forget God); and the hope of an hypocrite shall perish.
14 His cowardice shall not please God, and his trust shall be as a web of spiders.
15 He shall lean, either rest, upon his house, and it shall not stand; he shall underset it, and it shall not rise up altogether. (He shall lean, or shall rest, upon his house, but it shall not stand; he shall undergird it, but it shall not endure.)
16 The (bul)rush seemeth moist, before that the sun come; and in the rising of the sun, the seed thereof shall go out.
17 The roots thereof shall be made thick upon an heap of stones, and it shall dwell among [the] stones.
18 If a man draweth it out of the place thereof, that place shall deny it, and it shall say (in effect), I know thee not.
19 For this is the gladness of his way, that again other rushes spring out of the earth. (For this is the joy of its way, that other bulrushes shall spring out of the earth.)
20 Forsooth God shall not cast away a simple man, neither he shall address his hand to (help) wicked men; (But God shall not throw away a person who is without guile, nor shall he direct his hand to help the wicked;)
21 till thy mouth be filled with laughter, and thy lips with hearty song.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the tabernacle of wicked men shall not stand (and the tents, or the homes, of the wicked shall not stand).
9 And Job answered, and said,
2 Verily I know, that it is so, and that a man comparisoned to God shall not be made just. (Truly I know, that this is so, and that a man shall not be seen as just, when compared to God.)
3 If he will strive with God, he may not answer to God one for a thousand. (And if he will argue with God, he cannot answer to God one question out of a thousand.)
4 (For) He is wise in heart, and strong in might; who hath against-stood him, and had peace? (who hath stood against him, and hath prevailed?)
5 He bare over hills from one place to another, and they knew not (what had happened); which he destroyed in his strong vengeance (yea, he destroyed them in his strong vengeance).
6 Which stirreth the earth from his place, and the pillars thereof shall shake together. (Who stirreth the earth from its place, and its pillars shall altogether shake.)
7 He commandeth to the sun, and it riseth not; and he closeth (up) the stars, as under a signet.
8 He alone stretcheth forth (the) heavens, and he goeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 He maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Pleiades, that is, the seven stars, and the inner things of the south.
10 He maketh great things, and that may not be sought out, and also wonderful things, of which there is none number.
11 If he cometh to me, I shall not see him; if he goeth away from me, I shall not understand (I shall not know it).
12 If he asketh suddenly (If he suddenly asketh), who shall answer to him? either who may say to him, Why doest thou so?
13 He is God, whose wrath no man may withstand; and under whom they be bowed, that bear the world (who carry the world).
14 How great am I, that I answer to him, and speak by my words with him? (How great am I, that I answer him, and say my words to him?)
15 Which also (I) shall not answer to him, though I have anything just; but I shall beseech my judge to spare me. (Which even though I am just, I shall not answer him; but I shall still beseech my judge to spare me.)
16 And (even) when he hath heard me inwardly calling him, I believe not, that he hath heard my voice.
17 For in a whirlwind he shall all-break me, and he shall multiply my wounds, yea, without cause. (For he shall all-break me with a whirlwind, and he shall multiply my wounds, yea, for no reason.)
18 He granteth not, that my spirit have rest (He granteth not, that I catch my breath), and he filleth me with bitternesses.
19 If strength is sought, he is most strong; and if equity of doom is sought, no man dare yield witnessing for me (and if justice is sought, no one shall dare give testimony for me).
20 If I will make me just, my own mouth shall condemn me; if I shall show me innocent, he shall prove me a shrew. (If I will declare myself just, or right, my own mouth shall condemn me; if I shall declare myself innocent, it shall prove me a depraved man.)
21 Yea, though I be simple, my soul shall not know this same thing; and it shall annoy me of my life. (Yea, though I be without guile, I shall not know it; and my life shall vex my soul.)
22 One thing is, which I spake, he shall waste by death also the innocent (man) and [the] wicked man. (One thing is, which I have always said, that by death he shall surely destroy the innocent and the wicked alike.)
23 If he beateth, slay he once, and laugh he not of the pains of innocent men (and laugh he not at the pains of the innocent).
24 The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; he covereth the face(s) of (the) judges; that if he is not, who therefore is? (and if he did it not, then who did?)
25 My days were swifter than a courier; they fled away, and saw not good.
26 They passed away as [the] ships bearing apples, as an eagle flying to (its) meat (like an eagle flying to its food).
27 When I say, I shall not speak so; I change my face, and I am tormented with sorrow. (If I say, I shall not speak thus; I shall change my face, and shall comfort myself.)
28 I dread all my works, witting that thou sparest not the trespasser. (I fear all that I must suffer, for I know that thou sparest not the trespasser.)
29 And if I am also thus wicked, why have I travailed in vain? (And if I am held to be wicked, then why travail I in vain?)
30 (Even) Though I am washed as with waters of snow, and (even) though mine hands shine as most clean,
31 nevertheless thou shalt dip me in filths, and my clothes shall hold, or show, me abominable.
32 Truly I shall not answer a man, that is like me; neither that may be heard evenly with me in doom. (Truly I shall not be able to answer him, for he is not a man who is like me; nor is he someone who can equally be heard with me in court, or at the judgement.)
33 There is none, that may reprove ever either, and set his hand in both. (There is no one, who can rebuke both of us, or who can put his hand upon both of us.)
34 Do he away his rod from me, and his dread make not me afeared. (Let him take his rod away from me, and let not the fear of him, or his terrors, make me afraid.)
35 I shall speak, and I shall not dread him; for I may not answer dreading. (I shall speak, and I shall not fear him; for I cannot answer if I am afraid.)
10 It annoyeth my soul of my life; I shall leave my speech against me, I shall speak in the bitterness of my soul. (My life vexeth my soul; but I shall forgo any talk against myself, and I shall speak out of the bitterness of my soul.)
2 I shall say to God, Do not thou condemn me; show thou to me, why thou deemest me so (show thou me, why thou judgest me so).
3 Whether it seemeth good to thee, if thou challengest me as false, and oppressest me, the work of thine hands; and if thou helpest the counsel of wicked men?
4 Whether fleshly eyes be to thee, either, as a man seeth, also thou shalt see? (Hast thou fleshly eyes? or shalt thou see like a man seeth?)
5 Whether thy days be as the days of (a) man, and be thy years as man’s times; (Be thy days like the days of a man? and be thy years like the times of a man?)
6 (so) that thou inquire (after) my wickedness, and ensearch (after) my sin?
7 And thou, Lord, know, that I have done no wicked thing; since there is no man, that may deliver from thine hand? (And Lord, thou knowest that I have done no wicked thing; and there is no one who can rescue me out of thy hand.)
8 Thine hands have made me, and have formed me all in compass; and thou hast cast me down suddenly (and then suddenly thou hast thrown me down).
9 Lord, I pray thee, have thou mind, that thou madest me as clay, and shalt bring me again into dust. (Lord, I pray thee, remember that thou madest me like the clay/remember that thou madest me from the clay, and now shalt thou return me to the dust?)
10 Whether thou hast not milked me as milk, and hast crudded me together as cheese? (Hast thou not poured me out like milk, and curdled me together like cheese?)
11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh; and thou hast joined me together with bones and sinews.
12 Thou hast given life and mercy to me (Thou hast given life and love to me), and thy visiting hath kept my spirit (alive).
13 And though thou coverest these things in thine heart, nevertheless I know, that thou hast mind of all these things. (And though thou hidest these things in thy heart, nevertheless I know, that thou hast remembered all these things.)
14 And if when I did sin, thou sparedest me at an hour; why sufferest thou not me to be clean of my wickedness? (And when I did sin, thou sawest me; but thou wouldest not cleanse me of my wickedness.)
15 And if I was wicked, woe is to me; and if I was just, I shall not raise up mine head, that am full-filled with torment, and wretchedness. (And if I was wicked, woe is me; and if I was righteous, I shall still not raise up my head, I who am filled full of torment, and wretchedness.)
16 And if I raise up mine head for pride, thou shalt take me as a lioness; and thou turnest again, and tormentest me wonderfully. (And if I raise up my head in pride, then thou shalt take hold of me like a lioness; and thou shalt turn, and torment me with wonders, or miracles.)
17 Thou gatherest in store thy witnesses against me, and thou multipliest thine ire, that is, (thy) vengeance, against me; and pains hold knighthood in me. [Thou restorest thy witnesses against me, and thou multipliest thy wrath against me; and pains fight in me.]
18 Lord, why hast thou led me out of the womb? Why not had I erst been wasted, that an eye had not seen me (Why had I not erstwhile been destroyed, so that no eye had seen me).
19 (And so) That I had been, as if I were not, and were translated, either borne over, from the womb to the sepulchre (from the womb unto the tomb, or the grave).
20 Whether not the fewness of my days shall be ended in (a) short time? Therefore suffer thou me, that I bewail a little (more) my sorrow,
21 before that I go, and turn not again, to the dark land, and (be) covered with the darkness of death, (before that I go to the dark land, and am covered with the darkness of death, never to return,)
22 to the land of wretchedness, and of darknesses; where is shadow of death, and none order, but everlasting hideousness dwelleth. (yea, to the land of wretchedness, and of darkness; where there is only the shadow of death, and no order, and everlasting hideousness dwelleth there.)
26 And an angel of the Lord spake to Philip, and said, Rise thou, and go to meet the south [saying, Rise thou, and go against the south], to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem into Gaza; this is desert.
27 And he rose, and went forth. And lo! a man of Ethiopia, a mighty manservant, a gelding of Candace, the queen of Ethiopians [And lo! a man of Ethiopia, a mighty gelding of the queen Candace of Ethiopians], which was on all her riches, came to worship in Jerusalem.
28 And he turned again, sitting on his chariot, and reading Esaias, the prophet.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, Approach thou[a], and join thee to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran to, and heard him reading Esaias, the prophet. And he said, Guessest thou, whether thou understandest, what things thou readest?
31 And he said, How may I, if no man show to me [Which said, And how may I, if some man shall not show to me]? And he prayed Philip, that he should come up, and sit with him.
32 And the place of the scripture that he read, was this, As a sheep he was led to slaying, and as a lamb before a man that sheareth him is dumb without voice, so he opened not his mouth. [Forsooth the place of scripture that he read was this, As a sheep to slaying he was led, and as a lamb before a man shearing him is dumb without voice, so he opened not his mouth.]
33 In meekness his doom was taken up; who shall tell out the generation of him? For his life shall be taken away from the earth.
34 And the gelding answered to Philip, and said, I beseech thee, of what prophet saith he this thing? of himself, or of any other?
35 And Philip opened his mouth, and began at this scripture, and preached to him Jesus.
36 And while they went by the way, they came to a water [they came to some water]. And the gelding said, Lo! water; who forbiddeth me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest of all thine heart, it is leaveful. And he answered, and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still. And they went down both into the water, Philip and the gelding, and Philip baptized him [and he baptized him].
39 And when they were come up of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched (up) Philip, and the gelding saw him no more; and he went in his way joying.
40 And Philip was found in Azotus; and he passed forth, and preached to all cities [and he passing forth, evangelized to all cities], till he came to Caesarea.
2001 by Terence P. Noble