Job 34
1 Pronuntians itaque Eliu, etiam hæc locutus est:
Moreover Elihu answered,
2 Audite sapientes verba mea, et eruditi auscultate me:
“Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 Auris enim verba probat, et guttur escas gustu diiudicat.
For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.
4 Iudicium eligamus nobis, et inter nos videamus quid sit melius.
Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 Quia dixit Iob: Iustus sum, et Deus subvertit iudicium meum.
For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right.
6 In iudicando enim me, mendacium est: violenta sagitta mea absque ullo peccato.
Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’
7 Quis est vir ut est Iob, qui bibit subsannationem quasi aquam:
What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
8 Qui graditur cum operantibus iniquitatem, et ambulat cum viris impiis?
who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?
9 Dixit enim: Non placebit vir Deo, etiam si cucurrerit cum eo.
For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’
10 Ideo viri cordati audite me, absit a Deo impietas, et ab Omnipotente iniquitas.
“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11 Opus enim hominis reddet ei, et iuxta vias singulorum restituet eis.
For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Vere enim Deus non condemnabit frustra, nec Omnipotens subvertet iudicium.
Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Quem constituit alium super terram? aut quem posuit super orbem, quem fabricatus est?
Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world?
14 Si direxerit ad eum cor suum, spiritum illius et flatum ad se trahet.
If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
15 Deficiet omnis caro simul, et homo in cinerem revertetur.
all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.
16 Si habes ergo intellectum, audi quod dicitur, et ausculta vocem eloquii mei.
“If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.
17 Numquid qui non amat iudicium, sanari potest? et quomodo tu eum, qui iustus est, in tantum condemnas?
Should even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
18 Qui dicit regi, apostata: qui vocat duces impios:
who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
19 Qui non accipit personas principum: nec cognovit tyrannum, cum disceptaret contra pauperum: opus enim manuum eius sunt universi.
He doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respect the rich more than the poor, for they all 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 they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 Oculi enim eius super vias hominum, et omnes gressus eorum considerat.
“For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.
22 Non sunt tenebræ, et non est umbra mortis, ut abscondantur ibi qui operantur iniquitatem.
There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 Neque enim ultra in hominis potestate est, ut veniat ad Deum in iudicium.
For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.
24 Conteret multos, et innumerabiles, et stare faciet alios pro eis.
He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.
25 Novit enim opera eorum: et idcirco inducet noctem, et conterentur.
Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 Quasi impios percussit eos in loco videntium.
He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 Qui quasi de industria recesserunt ab eo, et omnes vias eius intelligere noluerunt:
because they turned away from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,
28 Ut pervenire facerent ad eum clamorem egeni, et audiret vocem pauperum.
so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.
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 gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? He is over a nation or a man alike,
30 Qui regnare facit hominem hypocritam propter peccata populi.
that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.
31 Quia ergo ego locutus sum ad Deum, te quoque non prohibebo.
“For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
32 Si erravi, tu doce me: si iniquitatem locutus sum, ultra non addam.
Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it 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.
Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.
34 Viri intelligentes loquantur mihi, et vir sapiens audiat me.
Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:
35 Iob autem stulte locutus est, et verba illius non sonant disciplinam.
‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’
36 Pater mi, probetur Iob usque ad finem: ne desinas ab homine iniquitatis.
I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
37 Quia addit super peccata sua blasphemiam, inter nos interim constringatur: et tunc ad iudicium provocet sermonibus suis Deum.
For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”
