The Book of Job — Liber Job
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Chapter 35
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Douay-Rheims><Vulgate><Knox Bible
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Moreover Eliu spoke these words:
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Igitur Eliu hæc rursum locutus est:
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And Eliu spoke on:
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Doth thy thought seem right to thee, that thou shouldst say: I am more just than God?
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Numquid æqua tibi videtur tua cogitatio, ut diceres: Justior sum Deo?
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What substance is there in this contention of thine, when thou claimest to have right on thy side against God?
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For thou saidst: That which is right doth not please thee: or what will it profit thee if I sin?
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Dixisti enim: Non tibi placet quod rectum est: vel quid tibi proderit, si ego peccavero?
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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!
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Therefore I will answer thy words, and thy friends with thee.
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Itaque ego respondebo sermonibus tuis, et amicis tuis tecum.
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Here is my answer, to thee, Job, and to thy friends alike.
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Look up to heaven and see, and behold the sky, that it is higher than thee.
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Suspice cælum, et intuere: et contemplare æthera quod altior te sit.
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Look heavenward, mark how the skies tower above thee, and read thy lesson there.
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If thou sin, what shalt thou hurt him? and if thy iniquities be multiplied, what shalt thou do against him?
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Si peccaveris, quid ei nocebis? et si multiplicatæ fuerint iniquitates tuæ, quid facies contra eum?
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Multiply thy wrong-doing as thou wilt, no sin of thine can harm or touch him;
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And if thou do justly, what shalt thou give him, or what shall he receive of thy hand?
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Porro si juste egeris, quid donabis ei? aut quid de manu tua accipiet?
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be honest as the day, no gift thou makest him, he is none the richer for thy pains.
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Thy wickedness may hurt a man that is like thee: and thy justice may help the son of man.
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Homini qui similis tui est, nocebit impietas tua: et filium hominis adjuvabit justitia tua.
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Only to thy fellow man thy malice does a hurt; only Adam’s children profit by thy uprightness.
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By reason of the multitude of oppressors they shall cry out: and shall wail for the violence of the arm of tyrants.
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Propter multitudinem calumniatorum clamabunt, et ejulabunt propter vim brachii tyrannorum.
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… Cries and groans there are in plenty when oppression abounds, when tyranny holds unchecked sway;
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And he hath not said: Where is God, who made me, who hath given songs in the night?
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Et non dixit: Ubi est Deus qui fecit me, qui dedit carmina in nocte;
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Where is God? men ask; yet never did they seek to find him when he brought triumph in the hour of distress,
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Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and instructeth us more than the fowls of the air.
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qui docet nos super jumenta terræ, et super volucres cæli erudit nos?
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the God who teaches them such lessons as he never gave to beast or bird.
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There shall they cry, and he will not hear, because of the pride of evil men.
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Ibi clamabunt, et non exaudiet, propter superbiam malorum.
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Only then, only when the wicked lord it over them, men cry out, but their cry goes unheard;
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God therefore will not hear in vain, and the Almighty will look into the causes of every one.
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Non ergo frustra audiet Deus, et Omnipotens causas singulorum intuebitur.
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should God concern himself with these random complaints, he, the Almighty, examine their pleadings one by one?
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Yea when thou shalt say: He considereth not: be judged before him, and expect him.
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Etiam cum dixeris: Non considerat: judicare coram illo, et expecta eum.
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Nay, when he seems to take no heed, submit thyself to his judgement and await his hour;
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For he doth not now bring on his fury, neither doth he revenge wickedness exceedingly.
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Nunc enim non infert furorem suum, nec ulciscitur scelus valde.
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thy present sufferings do not betoken his anger, he is not taking vengeance to the full.
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Therefore Job openeth his mouth in vain, and multiplieth words without knowledge.
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Ergo Job frustra aperit os suum, et absque scientia verba multiplicat.
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See, then, how all Job’s utterance misses the mark; glib words with no tincture of knowledge!