Chapter 35

And Eliu spoke on:

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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