< Job 34 >

1 Moreover Elihu answered,
Pronuntians itaque Eliu, etiam hæc locutus est:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
Audite sapientes verba mea, et eruditi auscultate me:
3 For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.
Auris enim verba probat, et guttur escas gustu diiudicat.
4 Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know amongst ourselves what is good.
Iudicium eligamus nobis, et inter nos videamus quid sit melius.
5 For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right.
Quia dixit Iob: Iustus sum, et Deus subvertit iudicium meum.
6 Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’
In iudicando enim me, mendacium est: violenta sagitta mea absque ullo peccato.
7 What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
Quis est vir ut est Iob, qui bibit subsannationem quasi aquam:
8 who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?
Qui graditur cum operantibus iniquitatem, et ambulat cum viris impiis?
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’
Dixit enim: Non placebit vir Deo, etiam si cucurrerit cum eo.
10 “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.
Ideo viri cordati audite me, absit a Deo impietas, et ab Omnipotente iniquitas.
11 For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
Opus enim hominis reddet ei, et iuxta vias singulorum restituet eis.
12 Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
Vere enim Deus non condemnabit frustra, nec Omnipotens subvertet iudicium.
13 Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world?
Quem constituit alium super terram? aut quem posuit super orbem, quem fabricatus est?
14 If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
Si direxerit ad eum cor suum, spiritum illius et flatum ad se trahet.
15 all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.
Deficiet omnis caro simul, et homo in cinerem revertetur.
16 “If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.
Si habes ergo intellectum, audi quod dicitur, et ausculta vocem eloquii mei.
17 Should even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
Numquid qui non amat iudicium, sanari potest? et quomodo tu eum, qui iustus est, in tantum condemnas?
18 who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
Qui dicit regi, apostata: qui vocat duces impios:
19 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.
Qui non accipit personas principum: nec cognovit tyrannum, cum disceptaret contra pauperum: opus enim manuum eius sunt universi.
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.
Subito morientur, et in media nocte turbabuntur populi, et pertransibunt, et auferent violentum absque manu.
21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.
Oculi enim eius super vias hominum, et omnes gressus eorum considerat.
22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
Non sunt tenebræ, et non est umbra mortis, ut abscondantur ibi qui operantur iniquitatem.
23 For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgement.
Neque enim ultra in hominis potestate est, ut veniat ad Deum in iudicium.
24 He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.
Conteret multos, et innumerabiles, et stare faciet alios pro eis.
25 Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
Novit enim opera eorum: et idcirco inducet noctem, et conterentur.
26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
Quasi impios percussit eos in loco videntium.
27 because they turned away from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,
Qui quasi de industria recesserunt ab eo, et omnes vias eius intelligere noluerunt:
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.
Ut pervenire facerent ad eum clamorem egeni, et audiret vocem pauperum.
29 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,
Ipso enim concedente pacem, quis est qui condemnet? ex quo absconderit vultum, quis est qui contempletur eum et super gentes et super omnes homines?
30 that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.
Qui regnare facit hominem hypocritam propter peccata populi.
31 “For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
Quia ergo ego locutus sum ad Deum, te quoque non prohibebo.
32 Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
Si erravi, tu doce me: si iniquitatem locutus sum, ultra non addam.
33 Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.
Numquid a te Deus expetit eam, quia displicuit tibi? tu enim cœpisti loqui, et non ego: quod si quid nosti melius, loquere.
34 Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:
Viri intelligentes loquantur mihi, et vir sapiens audiat me.
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’
Iob autem stulte locutus est, et verba illius non sonant disciplinam.
36 I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
Pater mi, probetur Iob usque ad finem: ne desinas ab homine iniquitatis.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands amongst us, and multiplies his words against God.”
Quia addit super peccata sua blasphemiam, inter nos interim constringatur: et tunc ad iudicium provocet sermonibus suis Deum.

< Job 34 >