The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

But if thou hast any thing to say, answer me, speak: for I would have thee to appear just.

And if thou have not, hear me: hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.

And Eliu continued his discourse, and said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

Moreover Eliu spoke these words:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eliu also proceeded, and said:

Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to speak in God's behalf.

I will repeat my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker just.

For indeed my words are without a lie, and perfect knowledge shall be proved to thee.

God doth not cast away the mighty, whereas he himself also is mighty.

But he saveth not the wicked, and he giveth judgment to the poor.

He will not take away his eyes from the just, and he placeth kings on the throne for ever, and they are exalted.

And if they shall be in chains, and be bound with the cords of poverty:

He shall shew them their works, and their wicked deeds, because they have been violent.

He also shall open their ear, to correct them: and shall speak, that they may return from iniquity.

If they shall hear and observe, they shall accomplish their days in good, and their years in glory.

But if they hear not, they shall pass by the sword, and shall be consumed in folly.

Dissemblers and crafty men prove the wrath of God, neither shall they cry when they are bound.

Their soul shall die in a storm, and their life among the effeminate.

He shall deliver the poor out of his distress, and shall open his ear in affliction.

Therefore he shall set thee at large out of the narrow mouth, and which hath no foundation under it: and the rest of thy table shall be full of fatness.

Thy cause hath been judged as that of the wicked, cause and judgment thou shalt recover.

Therefore let not anger overcome thee to oppress any man: neither let multitude of gifts turn thee aside.

Lay down thy greatness without tribulation, and all the mighty of strength.

Prolong not the night that people may come up for them.

Beware thou turn not aside to iniquity: for this thou hast begun to follow after misery.

Behold, God is high in his strength, and none is like him among the lawgivers.

Who can search out his ways? or who can say to him: Thou hast wrought iniquity?

Remember that thou knowest not his work, concerning which men have sung.

All men see him, every one beholdeth afar off.

Behold, God is great, exceeding our knowledge: the number of his years is inestimable.

He lifteth up the drops of rain, and poureth out showers like floods:

Which flow from the clouds that cover all above.

If he will spread out clouds as his tent,

And lighten with his light from above, he shall cover also the ends of the sea.

For by these he judgeth people, and giveth food to many mortals.

In his hands he hideth the light, and commandeth it to come again.

He sheweth his friend concerning it, that it is his possession, and that he may come up to it.

At this my heart trembleth, and is moved out of its place.

Hear ye attentively the terror of his voice, and the sound that cometh out of his mouth.

He beholdeth under all the heavens, and his light is upon the ends of the earth.

After it a noise shall roar, he shall thunder with the voice of his majesty, and shall not be found out, when his voice shall be heard.

God shall thunder wonderfully with his voice, he that doth great and unsearchable things.

He commandeth the snow to go down upon the earth, and the winter rain, and the shower of his strength.

He sealeth up the hand of all men, that every one may know his works.

Then the beast shall go into his covert, and shall abide in his den.

Out of the inner parts shall a tempest come, and cold out of the north.

When God bloweth there cometh frost, and again the waters are poured out abundantly.

Corn desireth clouds, and the clouds spread their light:

Which go round about, whithersoever the will of him that governeth them shall lead them, to whatsoever he shall command them upon the face of the whole earth: