Job 22
1 Respondens autem Eliphaz Themanites, dixit:
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
2 Numquid Deo potest comparari homo, etiam cum perfectæ fuerit scientiæ?
Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?
3 Qui prodest Deo si iustus fueris? aut quid ei confers si immaculata fuerit via tua?
Is it any advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?
4 Numquid timens arguet te, et veniet tecum in iudicium,
Is it for thy fear of Him that He reproveth thee, that He entereth with thee into judgment?
5 Et non propter malitiam tuam plurimam, et infinitas iniquitates tuas?
Is not thy wickedness great? And are not thine iniquities without end?
6 Abstulisti enim pignus fratrum tuorum sine causa, et nudos spoliasti vestibus.
For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 Aquam lasso non dedisti, et esurienti subtraxisti panem.
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
8 In fortitudine brachii tui possidebas terram, et potentissimus obtinebas eam.
And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, and as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it,
9 Viduas dimisisti vacuas, et lacertos pupillorum comminuisti.
Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Propterea circumdatus es laqueis, et conturbat te formido subita.
Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden dread affrighted thee,
11 Et putabas te tenebras non visurum, et impetu aquarum inundantium non oppressum iri?
Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.
12 An non cogitas quod Deus excelsior cælo sit, et super stellarum verticem sublimetur?
Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the topmost of the stars, how high they are!
13 Et dicis: Quid enim novit Deus? et quasi per caliginem iudicat.
And thou sayest: 'What doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?
14 Nubes latibulum eius, nec nostra considerat, et circa cardines cæli perambulat.
Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven.'
15 Numquid semitam sæculorum custodire cupis, quam calcaverunt viri iniqui?
Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 Qui sublati sunt ante tempus suum, et fluvius subvertit fundamentum eorum:
Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream;
17 Qui dicebant Deo: Recede a nobis: et quasi nihil posset facere Omnipotens, æstimabant eum:
Who said unto God: 'Depart from us'; and what could the Almighty do unto them?
18 Cum ille implesset domos eorum bonis, quorum sententia procul sit a me.
Yet He filled their houses with good things — but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19 Videbunt iusti, et lætabuntur, et innocens subsannabit eos.
The righteous saw it, and were glad, and the innocent laugh them to scorn:
20 Nonne succisa est erectio eorum, et reliquias eorum devoravit ignis?
'Surely their substance is cut off, and their abundance the fire hath consumed.'
21 Acquiesce igitur ei, et habeto pacem: et per hæc habebis fructus optimos.
Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby shall thine increase be good.
22 Suscipe ex ore illius legem, et pone sermones eius in corde tuo.
Receive, I pray thee, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in thy heart.
23 Si reversus fueris ad Omnipotentem, ædificaberis, et longe facies iniquitatem a tabernaculo tuo.
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up — if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents,
24 Dabit pro terra silicem, et pro silice torrentes aureos.
And lay thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;
25 Eritque Omnipotens contra hostes tuos, et argentum coacervabitur tibi.
And the Almighty be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee;
26 Tunc super Omnipotentem deliciis afflues, et elevabis ad Deum faciem tuam.
Then surely shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
27 Rogabis eum, et exaudiet te, et vota tua reddes.
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He will hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows;
28 Decernes rem, et veniet tibi, et in viis tuis splendebit lumen.
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, and light shall shine upon thy ways.
29 Qui enim humiliatus fuerit, erit in gloria: et qui inclinaverit oculos, ipse salvabitur.
When they cast thee down, thou shalt say: 'There is lifting up'; for the humble person He saveth.
30 Salvabitur innocens, salvabitur autem in munditia manuum suarum.
He delivereth him that is innocent, yea, thou shalt be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.
