< Job 34 >

1 pronuntians itaque Heliu etiam haec locutus est
And Elihu proceeded, and said:
2 audite sapientes verba mea et eruditi auscultate me
Hear my words, ye wise men! Give ear to me, ye that have knowledge!
3 auris enim verba probat et guttur escas gustu diiudicat
For the ear trieth words, As the mouth tasteth meat.
4 iudicium eligamus nobis et inter nos videamus quid sit melius
Let us examine for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is true.
5 quia dixit Iob iustus sum et Deus subvertit iudicium meum
Job hath said, “I am righteous, And God refuseth me justice.
6 in iudicando enim me mendacium est violenta sagitta mea absque ullo peccato
Though I am innocent, I am made a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am free from transgression.”
7 quis est vir ut est Iob qui bibit subsannationem quasi aquam
Where is the man like Job, Who drinketh impiety like water;
8 qui graditur cum operantibus iniquitatem et ambulat cum viris impiis
Who goeth in company with evil-doers, And walketh with wicked men?
9 dixit enim non placebit vir Deo etiam si cucurrerit cum eo
For he hath said, “A man hath no advantage, When he delighteth himself in God.”
10 ideo viri cordati audite me absit a Deo impietas et ab Omnipotente iniquitas
Wherefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding! Far be iniquity from God; Yea, far be injustice from the Almighty!
11 opus enim hominis reddet ei et iuxta vias singulorum restituet
For what a man hath done he will requite him, And render to every one according to his deeds.
12 vere enim Deus non condemnabit frustra nec Omnipotens subvertet iudicium
Surely God will not do iniquity, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 quem constituit alium super terram aut quem posuit super orbem quem fabricatus est
Who hath given him the charge of the earth? Or who hath created the whole world?
14 si direxerit ad eum cor suum spiritum illius et flatum ad se trahet
Should he set his heart against man, Should he take back his spirit and his breath,
15 deficiet omnis caro simul et homo in cinerem revertetur
Then would all flesh expire together; Yea, man would return to the dust.
16 si habes ergo intellectum audi quod dicitur et ausculta vocem eloquii mei
If thou hast understanding, hear this! Give ear to the voice of my words!
17 numquid qui non amat iudicium sanare potest et quomodo tu eum qui iustus est in tantum condemnas
Shall he, that hateth justice, govern? Wilt thou then condemn the just and mighty One?
18 qui dicit regi apostata qui vocat duces impios
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked; Or to princes, Ye are unrighteous?
19 qui non accipit personas principum nec cognovit tyrannum cum disceptaret contra pauperem opus enim manuum eius sunt universi
How much less to him that is not partial to princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they are all 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; yea, at midnight Do the people stagger and pass away, And the mighty are destroyed without hand.
21 oculi enim eius super vias hominum et omnes gressus eorum considerat
For his eyes are upon the ways of man; He seeth all his steps.
22 non sunt tenebrae et non est umbra mortis ut abscondantur ibi qui operantur iniquitatem
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, Where evil-doers may hide themselves.
23 neque enim ultra in hominis potestate est ut veniat ad Deum in iudicium
He needeth not attend long to a man, That he may go into judgment before God;
24 conteret multos innumerabiles et stare faciet alios pro eis
He dasheth in pieces the mighty without inquiry, And setteth up others in their stead.
25 novit enim opera eorum et idcirco inducet noctem et conterentur
Therefore he knoweth their works, And in a night he overthroweth them, so that they are destroyed.
26 quasi impios percussit eos in loco videntium
On account of their wickedness he smiteth them, In the presence of many beholders;
27 qui quasi de industria recesserunt ab eo et omnes vias eius intellegere noluerunt
Because they turned away from him, And had no regard to his ways,
28 ut pervenire facerent ad eum clamorem egeni et audiret vocem pauperum
And caused the cry of the poor to come before him; For he heareth the cry of the oppressed.
29 ipso enim concedente pacem quis est qui condemnet ex quo absconderit vultum quis est qui contempletur eum et super gentem et super omnes homines
When he giveth rest, who can cause trouble? And when he hideth his face, Who can behold him?
30 qui regnare facit hominem hypocritam propter peccata populi
So is it with nations and individuals alike! That the wicked may no more rule, And may not be snares to the people.
31 quia ergo ego locutus sum ad Deum te quoque non prohibeo
Surely thou shouldst say unto God, “I have received chastisement; I will no more offend;
32 si erravi tu doce me si iniquitatem locutus sum ultra non addam
What I see not, teach thou me! If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more.”
33 numquid a te Deus expetit eam quia displicuit tibi tu enim coepisti loqui et non ego quod si quid nosti melius loquere
Shall he recompense according to thy mind, Because thou refusest, or because thou choosest, and not he? Speak, if thou hast knowledge!
34 viri intellegentes loquantur mihi et vir sapiens audiat me
Men of understanding, Wise men, who hear me, will say,
35 Iob autem stulte locutus est et verba illius non sonant disciplinam
“Job hath spoken without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.”
36 pater mi probetur Iob usque ad finem ne desinas in hominibus iniquitatis
I desire that Job may be tried to the last, For 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 addeth impiety to his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth words against God.

< Job 34 >