Job 34
1 Pronuntians itaque Eliu, etiam hæc locutus est:
And Elihu commenced, and said,
2 Audite sapientes verba mea, et eruditi auscultate me:
Hear, O ye wise men, my words; and ye that have knowledge, give ear unto me.
3 Auris enim verba probat, et guttur escas gustu diiudicat.
For the ear proveth words, as the palate tasteth the food.
4 Iudicium eligamus nobis, et inter nos videamus quid sit melius.
Let us choose for ourselves what is just: let us acknowledge between ourselves what is good.
5 Quia dixit Iob: Iustus sum, et Deus subvertit iudicium meum.
For Job hath said, “I am righteous; and God hath taken away justice from me.
6 In iudicando enim me, mendacium est: violenta sagitta mea absque ullo peccato.
Should I lie concerning the justice due me? incurable is [my wound from] the arrow I bear in me without any transgression.”
7 Quis est vir ut est Iob, qui bibit subsannationem quasi aquam:
What man is there like Job, who drinketh scorning like water,
8 Qui graditur cum operantibus iniquitatem, et ambulat cum viris impiis?
And is on the road to keep company with the wrong-doers, and to walk with men of wickedness?
9 Dixit enim: Non placebit vir Deo, etiam si cucurrerit cum eo.
For he hath said, “It profiteth a man nothing when he acteth according to the pleasure of God.”
10 Ideo viri cordati audite me, absit a Deo impietas, et ab Omnipotente iniquitas.
Therefore ye men of sense hearken unto me: far is it from God to practise wickedness; and from the Almighty to do wrong!
11 Opus enim hominis reddet ei, et iuxta vias singulorum restituet eis.
For the work of a son of earth doth he recompense unto him, and according to the path of man doth he permit things to occur to him.
12 Vere enim Deus non condemnabit frustra, nec Omnipotens subvertet iudicium.
Yea, surely God will not condemn unjustly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Quem constituit alium super terram? aut quem posuit super orbem, quem fabricatus est?
Who hath given him a charge concerning the earth? or who hath intrusted [him] the whole world?
14 Si direxerit ad eum cor suum, spiritum illius et flatum ad se trahet.
If he were to set his heart upon man, he would gather unto himself his spirit and his breath:
15 Deficiet omnis caro simul, et homo in cinerem revertetur.
All flesh would perish together, and the son of earth would return again unto dust.
16 Si habes ergo intellectum, audi quod dicitur, et ausculta vocem eloquii mei.
If then thou wishest to understand, hear this: give ear to the sound of my words.
17 Numquid qui non amat iudicium, sanari potest? et quomodo tu eum, qui iustus est, in tantum condemnas?
Is it possible that he who hateth justice should govern? or wilt thou condemn the righteous mighty One?
18 Qui dicit regi, apostata: qui vocat duces impios:
[Is it fit] to say to a king, Thou art worthless? and to princes, Ye are wicked?
19 Qui non accipit personas principum: nec cognovit tyrannum, cum disceptaret contra pauperum: opus enim manuum eius sunt universi.
Whereas he is one that showeth no favor to chieftains, and distinguisheth not the rich before the indigent; for all of them are the work of his hands.
20 Subito morientur, et in media nocte turbabuntur populi, et pertransibunt, et auferent violentum absque manu.
In a moment will they die, and in the midst of the night; people are moved, and pass away: and the mighty will be removed without a human hand.
21 Oculi enim eius super vias hominum, et omnes gressus eorum considerat.
For big eyes are upon the ways of man, and all his steps doth he see.
22 Non sunt tenebræ, et non est umbra mortis, ut abscondantur ibi qui operantur iniquitatem.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the evil-doers can hide themselves.
23 Neque enim ultra in hominis potestate est, ut veniat ad Deum in iudicium.
For he need not direct [his attention] a long time upon man, that he should enter into judgment before God.
24 Conteret multos, et innumerabiles, et stare faciet alios pro eis.
He breaketh down mighty men without [long] searching, and placeth others in their stead.
25 Novit enim opera eorum: et idcirco inducet noctem, et conterentur.
For the reason that he knoweth their deeds: therefore he overturneth them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 Quasi impios percussit eos in loco videntium.
Among wicked men doth he strike them, in the place where [many] see them:
27 Qui quasi de industria recesserunt ab eo, et omnes vias eius intelligere noluerunt:
Because they have departed from following him, and have not considered all his ways.
28 Ut pervenire facerent ad eum clamorem egeni, et audiret vocem pauperum.
Bringing before them the cry of the indigent, and the cry of the afflicted which he had to hear.
29 Ipso enim concedente pacem, quis est qui condemnet? ex quo absconderit vultum, quis est qui contempletur eum et super gentes et super omnes homines?
When he now granteth rest, who will condemn [him]! and when he hideth his face, who can behold him? whether it be against a nation, or against one man, it is the same:
30 Qui regnare facit hominem hypocritam propter peccata populi.
That no hypocritical man may reign, that such shall not be a mare to the people.
31 Quia ergo ego locutus sum ad Deum, te quoque non prohibebo.
For truly it is only fitting to say unto God, “I bear [cheerfully], I will not do any wrong;
32 Si erravi, tu doce me: si iniquitatem locutus sum, ultra non addam.
What I cannot see myself, do thou truly teach me; if I have done what is unjust, I will do so no more.”
33 Numquid a te Deus expetit eam, quia displicuit tibi? tu enim cœpisti loqui, et non ego: quod si quid nosti melius, loquere.
Should he then according to thy view send a recompense, because thou hast rejected him? “Because thou must choose, and not I?” and what thou knowest, do speak.
34 Viri intelligentes loquantur mihi, et vir sapiens audiat me.
Men of sense will say unto me, and every wise man who heareth me,
35 Iob autem stulte locutus est, et verba illius non sonant disciplinam.
That Job hath not spoken with knowledge, and that his words are without intelligence.
36 Pater mi, probetur Iob usque ad finem: ne desinas ab homine iniquitatis.
Oh that Job may therefore be probed continually, in order to give answers against sinful men.
37 Quia addit super peccata sua blasphemiam, inter nos interim constringatur: et tunc ad iudicium provocet sermonibus suis Deum.
For he addeth unto his sin transgression: among us he uttereth too many loud words, and multiplieth his speeches against God.
