Moreover Eliu spoke these words:

Igitur Eliu hæc rursum locutus est:

And Eliu spoke on:

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

Itaque ego respondebo sermonibus tuis, et amicis tuis tecum.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ibi clamabunt, et non exaudiet, propter superbiam malorum.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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