And Eliu spoke on:

Pronuntians itaque Eliu, etiam hæc locutus est:

And Eliu continued his discourse, and said:

A word for the wise; listen, you that are the world’s sages;

Audite, sapientes, verba mea: et eruditi, auscultate me.

Hear ye, wise men, my words, and ye learned, hearken to me:

for food, the discerning palate, for wisdom, the discerning ear.

Auris enim verba probat, et guttur escas gustu dijudicat.

For the ear trieth words, and the mouth discerneth meats by the taste.

Award we must give, this way or that; of two ways we must choose the better.

Judicium eligamus nobis, et inter nos videamus quid sit melius.

Let us choose to us judgment, and let us see among ourselves what is the best.

Here is Job telling us that he is innocent, that God denies him his rights,

Quia dixit Job: Justus sum, et Deus subvertit judicium meum.

For Job hath said: I am just, and God hath overthrown my judgment.

judges him falsely, and plies him with punishment undeserved.

In judicando enim me mendacium est: violenta sagitta mea absque ullo peccato.

For in judging me there is a lie: my arrow is violent without any sin.

Are there many such, many that thirst so greedily for the opportunity to cavil?

Quis est vir ut est Job, qui bibit subsannationem quasi aquam:

What man is there like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

What is this but to take part with wrong-doers, range himself among the impious,

qui graditur cum operantibus iniquitatem, et ambulat cum viris impiis?

Who goeth in company with them that work iniquity, and walketh with wicked men?

when he complains that there is no pleasing God, however ready a man is to do his will?

Dixit enim: Non placebit vir Deo, etiam si cucurrerit cum eo.

For he hath said: Man shall not please God, although he run with him.

Listen to me, then, discerning hearts! From God, the Almighty, far removed is all wickedness, is every thought of wrong;

Ideo, viri cordati, audite me: absit a Deo impietas, et ab Omnipotente iniquitas.

Therefore, ye men of understanding, hear me: far from God be wickedness, and iniquity from the Almighty.

he treats men only as they deserve, giving due reward to each.

Opus enim hominis reddet ei, et juxta vias singulorum restituet eis.

For he will render to a man his work, and according to the ways of every one he will reward them.

What, should Almighty God pervert justice by condemning the innocent?

Vere enim Deus non condemnabit frustra, nec Omnipotens subvertet judicium.

For in very deed God will not condemn without cause, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

Is the care of the wide earth entrusted to some other; is not the maker of the world himself the world’s judge?

Quem constituit alium super terram? aut quem posuit super orbem quem fabricatus est?

What other hath he appointed over the earth? or whom hath he set over the world which he made?

He has but to turn his thought towards men, reclaiming the spirit he once breathed into them,

Si direxerit ad eum cor suum, spiritum illius et flatum ad se trahet.

If he turn his heart to him, he shall draw his spirit and breath unto himself.

and all life would fail everywhere; mankind would return to its dust.

Deficiet omnis caro simul, et homo in cinerem revertetur.

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return into ashes.

Is Job wise? Then let him listen to these words of mine, heed well my warning.

Si habes ergo intellectum, audi quod dicitur, et ausculta vocem eloquii mei:

If then thou hast understanding, hear what is said, and hearken to the voice of my words.

Can there be healing, where there is no love of right? Wouldst thou find fault with him whose justice runs so deep?

numquid qui non amat judicium sanari potest? et quomodo tu eum qui justus est in tantum condemnas?

Can he be healed that loveth not judgment? and how dost thou so far condemn him that is just?

He it is that says Traitor to a crowned king, and finds princes themselves guilty of rebellion.

Qui dicit regi: Apostata; qui vocat duces impios;

Who saith to the king: Thou art an apostate: who calleth rulers ungodly:

Nothing cares he for royal dignity, nor takes the oppressor’s part against the friendless; are not all alike his creatures?

qui non accipit personas principum, nec cognovit tyrannum cum disceptaret contra pauperem: opus enim manuum ejus sunt universi.

Who accepteth not the persons of princes: nor hath regarded the tyrant, when he contended against the poor man: for all are the work of his hands.

Suddenly death falls; there is a stir among the people at midnight, and they pass by to see the tyrant carried out, and yet no hand laid on him!

Subito morientur, et in media nocte turbabuntur populi: et pertransibunt, et auferent violentum absque manu.

They shall suddenly die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and they shall pass, and take away the violent without hand.

Still God’s eye watches over men, whatever they do, wherever they take their path;

Oculi enim ejus super vias hominum, et omnes gressus eorum considerat.

For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he considereth all their steps.

darkness is none, though it were the shadow of death itself, that can hide the wrong-doer;

Non sunt tenebræ, et non est umbra mortis, ut abscondantur ibi qui operantur iniquitatem,

There is no darkness, and there is no shadow of death, where they may be hid who work iniquity.

not at a time of his own choosing man meets God in judgement.

neque enim ultra in hominis potestate est, ut veniat ad Deum in judicium.

For it is no longer in the power of man to enter into judgment with God.

A whole world of men he will destroy, and put others in their place;

Conteret multos, et innumerabiles, et stare faciet alios pro eis.

He shall break in pieces many and innumerable, and shall make others to stand in their stead.

weary of their ill deeds, he bids darkness fall, and there is an end of them.

Novit enim opera eorum, et idcirco inducet noctem, et conterentur.

For he knoweth their works: and therefore he shall bring night on them, and they shall be destroyed.

In some place where many triumph at the sight, he beats down the rebels

Quasi impios percussit eos in loco videntium:

He hath struck them, as being wicked, in open sight.

that hitherto of set purpose defied him, recked nothing of his commandments,

qui quasi de industria recesserunt ab eo, et omnes vias ejus intelligere noluerunt:

Who as it were on purpose have revolted from him, and would not understand all his ways:

till at last the despairing cry of poor folk unbefriended reached his ears.

ut pervenire facerent ad eum clamorem egeni, et audiret vocem pauperum.

So that they caused the cry of the needy to come to him, and he heard the voice of the poor.

So long as he grants prosperity, redress there is none; it is when he frowns upon man or nation that no eye can meet him.

Ipso enim concedente pacem, quis est qui condemnet? ex quo absconderit vultum, quis est qui contempletur eum, et super gentes, et super omnes homines?

For when he granteth peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hideth his countenance, who is there that can behold him, whether it regard nations, or all men?

Yet for a people’s sins, he will appoint a false-hearted king to rule them.

Qui regnare facit hominem hypocritam propter peccata populi.

Who maketh a man that is a hypocrite to reign for the sins of the people?

Such is the testimony I give to God; now let us hear thine;

Quia ergo ego locutus sum ad Deum, te quoque non prohibebo.

Seeing then I have spoken of God, I will not hinder thee in thy turn.

shew me my error, and if thou canst prove that I have spoken amiss, I will speak no more.

Si erravi, tu doce me; si iniquitatem locutus sum, ultra non addam.

If I have erred, teach thou me: if I have spoken iniquity, I will add no more.

Perhaps thou thinkest it part of the punishment God asks of thee, hearing what it pains thee to hear? But it was thou, not I, wert the first to speak. If thou hast better advice to offer, say on.

Numquid a te Deus expetit eam, quia displicuit tibi? tu enim cœpisti loqui, et non ego: quod si quid nosti melius, loquere.

Doth God require it of thee, because it hath displeased thee? for thou begannest to speak, and not I: but if thou know any thing better, speak.

O for wise tongues to speak, for discerning ears to listen to me!

Viri intelligentes loquantur mihi, et vir sapiens audiat me.

Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man hearken to me.

This Job has spoken as fools do; no word of his that echoes true doctrine!

Job autem stulte locutus est, et verba illius non sonant disciplinam.

But Job hath spoken foolishly, and his words sound not discipline.

Father, let Job be tried still, tried to the uttermost; have no patience with a man so perverse,

Pater mi, probetur Job usque ad finem: ne desinas ab homine iniquitatis:

My father, let Job be tried even to the end: cease not from the man of iniquity.

that sets a crown on his sins by blasphemy! For a while, let us see all ease denied him; and let him cite God to judgement if he will!

quia addit super peccata sua blasphemiam, inter nos interim constringatur: et tunc ad judicium provocet sermonibus suis Deum.

Because he addeth blasphemy upon his sins, let him be tied fast in the mean time amongst us: and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches.