Job 22
1 respondens autem Eliphaz Themanites dixit
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2 numquid Deo conparari potest homo etiam cum perfectae fuerit scientiae
“Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
3 quid prodest Deo si iustus fueris aut quid ei confers si inmaculata fuerit via tua
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him that you make your ways perfect?
4 numquid timens arguet te et veniet tecum in iudicium
Is it for your piety that he reproves you, that he enters with you into judgement?
5 et non propter malitiam tuam plurimam et infinitas iniquitates tuas
Isn’t your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.
6 abstulisti enim pignus fratrum tuorum sine causa et nudos spoliasti vestibus
For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 aquam lasso non dedisti et esurienti subtraxisti panem
You haven’t given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
8 in fortitudine brachii tui possidebas terram et potentissimus obtinebas eam
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honourable man, he lived in it.
9 viduas dimisisti vacuas et lacertos pupillorum comminuisti
You have 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 around you. Sudden fear troubles you,
11 et putabas te tenebras non visurum et impetu aquarum inundantium non oppressurum
or darkness, so that you can not see, and floods of waters cover you.
12 an cogitas quod Deus excelsior caelo et super stellarum vertices sublimetur
“Isn’t God in the heights of heaven? See 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 caeli perambulat
Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn’t see. He walks on the vault of the sky.’
15 numquid semitam saeculorum custodire cupis quam calcaverunt viri iniqui
Will you 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 possit facere Omnipotens aestimabant eum
who said to God, ‘Depart from us!’ and, ‘What can the Almighty do for us?’
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 laetabuntur et innocens subsannabit eos
The righteous see it, and are glad. The innocent ridicule them,
20 nonne succisa est erectio eorum et reliquias eorum devoravit ignis
saying, ‘Surely those who rose up against us are cut off. The fire has consumed their remnant.’
21 adquiesce igitur ei et habeto pacem et per haec habebis fructus optimos
“Acquaint yourself with him now, and be at peace. By it, good will come to you.
22 suscipe ex ore illius legem et pone sermones eius in corde tuo
Please receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 si reversus fueris ad Omnipotentem aedificaberis et longe facies iniquitatem a tabernaculo tuo
If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up, if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.
24 dabit pro terra silicem et pro silice torrentes aureos
Lay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir amongst the stones of the brooks.
25 eritque Omnipotens contra hostes tuos et argentum coacervabitur tibi
The Almighty will be your treasure, and precious silver to you.
26 tunc super Omnipotentem deliciis afflues et elevabis ad Deum faciem tuam
For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and 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.
28 decernes rem et veniet tibi et in viis tuis splendebit lumen
You will also decree a thing, and it will be established to you. Light will shine on your ways.
29 qui enim humiliatus fuerit erit in gloria et qui inclinaverit oculos suos ipse salvabitur
When they cast down, you will say, ‘be lifted up.’ He will save the humble person.
30 salvabitur innocens salvabitur autem munditia manuum suarum
He will even deliver him who is not innocent. Yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”
