< Job 36 >

1 Addens quoque Eliu, hæc locutus est:
Elihu also continued, and said,
2 Sustine me paululum, et indicabo tibi: adhuc enim habeo quod pro Deo loquar.
“Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.
3 Repetam scientiam meam a principio, et operatorem meum probabo iustum.
I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 Vere enim absque mendacio sermones mei, et perfecta scientia probabitur tibi.
For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Deus potentes non abiicit, cum et ipse sit potens.
“Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 Sed non salvat impios, et iudicium pauperibus tribuit.
He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted.
7 Non auferet a iusto oculos suos, et reges in solio collocat in perpetuum, et illi eriguntur.
He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
8 Et si fuerint in catenis, et vinciantur funibus paupertatis.
If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
9 Indicabit eis opera eorum, et scelera eorum, quia violenti fuerunt.
then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10 Revelabit quoque aurem eorum, ut corripiat: et loquetur, ut revertantur ab iniquitate.
He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
11 Si audierint et observaverint, complebunt dies suos in bono, et annos suos in gloria:
If they listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 Si autem non audierint, transibunt per gladium, et consumentur in stultitia.
But if they don’t listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.
13 Simulatores et callidi provocant iram Dei, neque clamabunt cum vincti fuerint.
“But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
14 Morietur in tempestate anima eorum, et vita eorum inter effeminatos.
They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.
15 Eripiet de angustia sua pauperem, et revelabit in tribulatione aurem eius.
He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
16 Igitur salvabit te de ore angusto latissime, et non habente fundamentum subter se: requies autem mensæ tuæ erit plena pinguedine.
Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
17 Causa tua quasi impii iudicata est, causam iudiciumque recipies.
“But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Non te ergo superet ira, ut aliquem opprimas: nec multitudo donorum inclinet te.
Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
19 Depone magnitudinem tuam absque tribulatione, et omnes robustos fortitudine.
Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
20 Ne protrahas noctem, ut ascendant populi pro eis.
Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Cave ne declines ad iniquitatem: hanc enim cœpisti sequi post miseriam.
Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 Ecce, Deus excelsus in fortitudine sua, et nullus ei similis in legislatoribus.
Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
23 Quis poterit scrutari vias eius? aut quis potest ei dicere: Operatus es iniquitatem?
Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness’?
24 Memento quod ignores opus eius, de quo cecinerunt viri.
“Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.
25 Omnes homines vident eum, unusquisque intuetur procul.
All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.
26 Ecce, Deus magnus vincens scientiam nostram: numerus annorum eius inæstimabilis.
Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
27 Qui aufert stillas pluviæ, et effundit imbres ad instar gurgitum.
For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,
28 Qui de nubibus fluunt, quæ prætexunt cuncta desuper.
which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
29 Si voluerit extendere nubes quasi tentorium suum.
Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 Et fulgurare lumine suo desuper, cardines quoque maris operiet.
Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
31 Per hæc enim iudicat populos, et dat escas multis mortalibus.
For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
32 In manibus abscondit lucem, et præcepit ei ut rursus adveniat.
He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Annunciat de ea amico suo, quod possessio eius sit, et ad eam possit ascendere.
Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.

< Job 36 >