Job 22

1 Respondens autem Eliphaz Themanites, dixit:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2 Numquid Deo potest comparari homo, etiam cum perfectæ fuerit scientiæ?

“Can a man be useful to God? Can a wise man be useful to him?

3 Qui prodest Deo si iustus fueris? aut quid ei confers si immaculata fuerit via tua?

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous? Is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?

4 Numquid timens arguet te, et veniet tecum in iudicium,

Is it because of your reverence for him that he rebukes you and takes you to judgment?

5 Et non propter malitiam tuam plurimam, et infinitas iniquitates tuas?

Is not your wickedness great? Is there no end to your iniquities?

6 Abstulisti enim pignus fratrum tuorum sine causa, et nudos spoliasti vestibus.

For you have demanded guarantee of a loan from your brother for no reason, and you have stripped away clothing from the naked.

7 Aquam lasso non dedisti, et esurienti subtraxisti panem.

You have not given water to weary people to drink; you have withheld bread from hungry people

8 In fortitudine brachii tui possidebas terram, et potentissimus obtinebas eam.

although you, a mighty man, possessed the earth, although you, an honored man, lived in it.

9 Viduas dimisisti vacuas, et lacertos pupillorum comminuisti.

You have sent widows away empty; the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10 Propterea circumdatus es laqueis, et conturbat te formido subita.

Therefore, snares are all around you, and sudden fear troubles you.

11 Et putabas te tenebras non visurum, et impetu aquarum inundantium non oppressum iri?

There is darkness, so that you cannot see; an abundance of waters covers you.

12 An non cogitas quod Deus excelsior cælo sit, et super stellarum verticem sublimetur?

Is not God in the heights of heaven? Look at the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 Et dicis: Quid enim novit Deus? et quasi per caliginem iudicat,

You say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

14 Nubes latibulum eius, nec nostra considerat, et circa cardines cæli perambulat.

Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he does not see us; he walks on the vault of heaven.'

15 Numquid semitam sæculorum custodire cupis, quam calcaverunt viri iniqui?

Will you keep the old way that wicked men have walked—

16 Qui sublati sunt ante tempus suum, et fluvius subvertit fundamentum eorum:

those who were snatched away before their time, those whose foundations have washed away like a river,

17 Qui dicebant Deo: Recede a nobis: et quasi nihil posset facere Omnipotens, æstimabant eum:

those who said to God, 'Depart from us'; those who said, 'What can the Almighty do to us?'

18 Cum ille implesset domos eorum bonis, quorum sententia procul sit a me.

Yet he filled their houses with good things; the plans of wicked people are far from me.

19 Videbunt iusti, et lætabuntur, et innocens subsannabit eos.

Righteous people see their fate and are glad; innocent people laugh them to scorn.

20 Nonne succisa est erectio eorum, et reliquias eorum devoravit ignis?

They say, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off; fire has consumed their possessions.'

21 Acquiesce igitur ei, et habeto pacem: et per hæc habebis fructus optimos.

Now agree with God and be at peace with him; in that way, good will come to you.

22 Suscipe ex ore illius legem, et pone sermones eius in corde tuo.

Receive, I beg you, instruction from his mouth; store up his words in your heart.

23 Si reversus fueris ad Omnipotentem, ædificaberis, et longe facies iniquitatem a tabernaculo tuo.

If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up, if you put unrighteousness far away from your tents.

24 Dabit pro terra silicem, et pro silice torrentes aureos.

Lay your treasure down in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,

25 Eritque Omnipotens contra hostes tuos, et argentum coacervabitur tibi.

and the Almighty will be your treasure, precious silver to you.

26 Tunc super Omnipotentem deliciis afflues, et elevabis ad Deum faciem tuam.

For then you will take pleasure in the Almighty; you will lift up your face to God.

27 Rogabis eum, et exaudiet te, et vota tua reddes.

You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you; you will pay your vows to him.

28 Decernes rem, et veniet tibi, et in viis tuis splendebit lumen.

You will also decree anything, and it will be confirmed for you; light will shine on your paths.

29 Qui enim humiliatus fuerit, erit in gloria: et qui inclinaverit oculos, ipse salvabitur.

God humbles a proud man, and he saves the one with lowered eyes.

30 Salvabitur innocens, salvabitur autem in munditia manuum suarum.

He will rescue even the man who is not innocent; who will be rescued through the cleanness of your hands.”