Pronuntians itaque Eliu, etiam hæc locutus est:

And Eliu spoke on:

And Eliu continued his discourse, and said:

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

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

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

Auris enim verba probat, et guttur escas gustu dijudicat.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

judges him falsely, and plies him with punishment undeserved.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Deficiet omnis caro simul, et homo in cinerem revertetur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Qui dicit regi: Apostata; qui vocat duces impios;

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quasi impios percussit eos in loco videntium:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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?

Qui regnare facit hominem hypocritam propter peccata populi.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Viri intelligentes loquantur mihi, et vir sapiens audiat me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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.