Liber Iob, 34

1. Pronuntians itaque Eliu etiam haec locutus est:

1. Then Eli'hu said:

2. “Audite, sapientes, verba mea; et eruditi, auscultate me.

2. "Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;

3. Auris enim verba probat, et guttur escas gustu diiudicat.

3. for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.

4. Iudicium eligamus nobis et inter nos videamus quid sit melius.

4. Let us choose what is right; let us determine among ourselves what is good.

5. Quia dixit Iob: “Iustus sum, et Deus avertit iudicium meum;

5. For Job has said, `I am innocent, and God has taken away my right;

6. in iudicando enim me mendacium est, violenta sagitta mea absque ullo peccato”.

6. in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

7. Quis est vir, ut est Iob, qui bibit subsannationem quasi aquam,

7. What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,

8. qui graditur una cum operantibus iniquitatem et ambulat cum viris impiis?

8. who goes in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?

9. Dixit enim: “Non prodest viro, etiamsi cum Deo familiariter agit”.

9. For he has said, `It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.'

10. Ideo, viri cordati, audite me: Absit a Deo impietas, et ab Omnipotente iniquitas.

10. "Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding, far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.

11. Opus enim hominis reddet ei et iuxta vias singulorum restituet eis.

11. For according to the work of a man he will requite him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.

12. Vere enim Deus non operatur malum, nec Omnipotens subvertet iudicium.

12. Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.

13. Quis commisit ei terram suam, aut quis posuit totum orbem?

13. Who gave him charge over the earth and who laid on him the whole world?

14. Si direxerit ad se cor suum, spiritum illius et halitum ad se trahat,

14. If he should take back his spirit to himself, and gather to himself his breath,

15. deficiet omnis caro simul, et homo in cinerem revertetur.

15. all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.

16. Si habes ergo intellectum, audi hoc et ausculta vocem eloquii mei:

16. "If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.

17. Numquid, qui non amat iudicium, reget imperio? Num iustum magnum condemnabis,

17. Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,

18. qui dicet regi: “Nequam!”, qui vocabit duces: “Impios!”,

18. who says to a king, `Worthless one,' and to nobles, `Wicked man';

19. qui non accipit personas principum nec cognovit opulentum, cum disceptaret contra pauperem? Opus enim manuum eius sunt universi.

19. who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards 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 conatu.

20. In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

21. Oculi enim eius super vias hominum, et omnes gressus eorum considerat.

21. "For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.

22. Non sunt tenebrae, et non est umbra mortis, ut abscondantur ibi, qui operantur iniquitatem.

22. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.

23. Nec enim ultra homini ponit conveniendi locum, ut veniat ad Deum in iudicium.

23. For he has not appointed a time for any man to go before God in judgment.

24. Conteret potentes sine inquisitione et stare faciet alios pro eis.

24. He shatters the mighty without investigation, and sets others in their place.

25. Novit enim opera eorum et idcirco inducet noctem, et conterentur.

25. Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.

26. Quasi impios percussit eos in loco videntium,

26. He strikes them for their wickedness in the sight of men,

27. qui quasi de industria recesserunt ab eo et omnes vias eius intellegere noluerunt,

27. because they turned aside from following him, and had no regard for any of his ways,

28. cum induceret ad se clamorem egeni et audiret vocem pauperum.

28. so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted --

29. Ipse enim si quieverit, quis est qui condemnet? Et si absconderit vultum, quis est qui contempletur eum, super gentem et super homines simul?

29. When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man? --

30. Ne regnet homo impius, ne sint laquei populo.

30. that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people.

31. Si enim dixit quispiam Deo: “Ferre debui! Iam non perverse agam.

31. "For has any one said to God, `I have borne chastisement; I will not offend any more;

32. Dum videam, tu doce me; si iniquitatem operatus sum, ultra non addam”.

32. teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

33. Numquid pro te Deus satisfaciet, quia respuisti? Tu enim eliges, et non ego; et si quid nosti melius, loquere.

33. Will he then make requital to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.

34. Viri intellegentes loquentur mihi, et vir sapiens, qui audiet me:

34. Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:

35. “Iob autem non in sapientia locutus est, et verba illius non sonant disciplinam”.

35. `Job speaks without knowledge, his words are without insight.'

36. Utique, probetur Iob usque ad finem de responsionibus hominum iniquitatis.

36. Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.

37. Quia addit super peccata sua delictum, inter nos plaudit manibus et multiplicat sermones suos contra Deum”.

37. For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God."