The Holy Bible – Knox Translation
The Book of Job
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Chapter 35
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And Eliu spoke on:
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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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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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Here is my answer, to thee, Job, and to thy friends alike.
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Look heavenward, mark how the skies tower above thee, and read thy lesson there.
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Multiply thy wrong-doing as thou wilt, no sin of thine can harm or touch him;
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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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Only to thy fellow man thy malice does a hurt; only Adam’s children profit by thy uprightness.
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… Cries and groans there are in plenty when oppression abounds, when tyranny holds unchecked sway;✻
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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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the God who teaches them such lessons as he never gave to beast or bird.
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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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should God concern himself with these random complaints, he, the Almighty, examine their pleadings one by one?
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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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thy present sufferings do not betoken his anger, he is not taking vengeance to the full.
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See, then, how all Job’s utterance misses the mark; glib words with no tincture of knowledge!
