And Eliu spoke on:

Igitur Eliu hæc rursum locutus est:

Moreover Eliu spoke these words:

What substance is there in this contention of thine, when thou claimest to have right on thy side against God?

Numquid æqua tibi videtur tua cogitatio, ut diceres: Justior sum Deo?

Doth thy thought seem right to thee, that thou shouldst say: I am more just than God?

He cares nothing (so runs thy complaint) for man’s good deeds; they are of no advantage to him, that he should care for sin of mine!

Dixisti enim: Non tibi placet quod rectum est: vel quid tibi proderit, si ego peccavero?

For thou saidst: That which is right doth not please thee: or what will it profit thee if I sin?

Here is my answer, to thee, Job, and to thy friends alike.

Itaque ego respondebo sermonibus tuis, et amicis tuis tecum.

Therefore I will answer thy words, and thy friends with thee.

Look heavenward, mark how the skies tower above thee, and read thy lesson there.

Suspice cælum, et intuere: et contemplare æthera quod altior te sit.

Look up to heaven and see, and behold the sky, that it is higher than thee.

Multiply thy wrong-doing as thou wilt, no sin of thine can harm or touch him;

Si peccaveris, quid ei nocebis? et si multiplicatæ fuerint iniquitates tuæ, quid facies contra eum?

If thou sin, what shalt thou hurt him? and if thy iniquities be multiplied, what shalt thou do against him?

be honest as the day, no gift thou makest him, he is none the richer for thy pains.

Porro si juste egeris, quid donabis ei? aut quid de manu tua accipiet?

And if thou do justly, what shalt thou give him, or what shall he receive of thy hand?

Only to thy fellow man thy malice does a hurt; only Adam’s children profit by thy uprightness.

Homini qui similis tui est, nocebit impietas tua: et filium hominis adjuvabit justitia tua.

Thy wickedness may hurt a man that is like thee: and thy justice may help the son of man.

… Cries and groans there are in plenty when oppression abounds, when tyranny holds unchecked sway;

Propter multitudinem calumniatorum clamabunt, et ejulabunt propter vim brachii tyrannorum.

By reason of the multitude of oppressors they shall cry out: and shall wail for the violence of the arm of tyrants.

Where is God? men ask; yet never did they seek to find him when he brought triumph in the hour of distress,

Et non dixit: Ubi est Deus qui fecit me, qui dedit carmina in nocte;

And he hath not said: Where is God, who made me, who hath given songs in the night?

the God who teaches them such lessons as he never gave to beast or bird.

qui docet nos super jumenta terræ, et super volucres cæli erudit nos?

Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and instructeth us more than the fowls of the air.

Only then, only when the wicked lord it over them, men cry out, but their cry goes unheard;

Ibi clamabunt, et non exaudiet, propter superbiam malorum.

There shall they cry, and he will not hear, because of the pride of evil men.

should God concern himself with these random complaints, he, the Almighty, examine their pleadings one by one?

Non ergo frustra audiet Deus, et Omnipotens causas singulorum intuebitur.

God therefore will not hear in vain, and the Almighty will look into the causes of every one.

Nay, when he seems to take no heed, submit thyself to his judgement and await his hour;

Etiam cum dixeris: Non considerat: judicare coram illo, et expecta eum.

Yea when thou shalt say: He considereth not: be judged before him, and expect him.

thy present sufferings do not betoken his anger, he is not taking vengeance to the full.

Nunc enim non infert furorem suum, nec ulciscitur scelus valde.

For he doth not now bring on his fury, neither doth he revenge wickedness exceedingly.

See, then, how all Job’s utterance misses the mark; glib words with no tincture of knowledge!

Ergo Job frustra aperit os suum, et absque scientia verba multiplicat.

Therefore Job openeth his mouth in vain, and multiplieth words without knowledge.