瑣法的回答

11 拿瑪人瑣法回答說:
「難道滔滔不絕就無人反駁?
難道嘮嘮叨叨就證明有理?
你喋喋不休,人們豈能緘默不言?
你嘲笑譏諷,豈不該有人使你羞愧?
你自以為信仰純全,
在上帝眼中清白。
唯願上帝發言,
開口駁斥你,
告訴你智慧的奧秘,
因為真智慧深奧難懂。
要知道,上帝對你的懲罰比你該受的還輕。

「你能測度上帝的深奧,
探索全能者的極限嗎?
那可比諸天還高,你能做什麼?
那可比陰間還深,你能知道什麼?
那可比大地還寬廣,
比海洋還遼闊。
10 祂若來囚禁你,
開庭審判,
誰能阻攔?
11 祂洞悉詭詐之人,
看見罪惡,
豈會不理?
12 愚蠢人若能變得聰明,
野驢駒也可生成人樣。

13 「你若把心安正,
向祂舉手禱告;
14 你若除去自己的罪惡,
不容帳篷裡有任何不義,
15 就必能無愧地仰起臉,
站立得穩,無所畏懼。
16 你必忘記自己的苦楚,
它從你記憶中如流水逝去。
17 你的人生將比正午還光明,
生命中的黑暗也必像黎明。
18 你必充滿盼望,感到安穩,
你必得到保護,安然入睡。
19 你睡覺時必無人驚擾,
許多人必求你施恩。
20 但惡人必眼目失明,無路可逃,
他們的指望只有死亡。」

琐法首次发言指责约伯自义

11 拿玛人琐法回答说:

“这许多的话怎可不回答,

多嘴多舌的人怎能算为义呢?

你胡言乱语可使人不作声吗?

你嘲笑的时候,无人责备吗?

你说:‘我的道理纯全,

我在你眼前洁净。’

但愿 神说话,

愿他开口跟你说话,

把智慧的奥秘向你显明,

因为真的智慧有两面。

你当知道 神已忘记了你一部分的罪孽。

 神洞悉人的罪

 神高深莫测之事你怎能查出呢?

全能者的终极你怎能洞悉呢?

他的智慧高于诸天,你能作甚么呢?

比阴间还深,你怎能识透?

他的智慧比地长,比海宽。

10 他若过来把人囚禁,

召人受审,谁能阻止他呢?

11 因为他认识虚谎的人,

他看见欺诈,怎能不鉴察?

12 虚妄的人悟出慧心,

就像野驴生子为人。

劝约伯悔改离罪

13 你若心里归向他,

又向他伸手祷告;

14 你若远远地除掉你手里的欺诈,

不让不义居在你的帐棚里;

15 那么你必仰面,毫无愧色;

你也必坚定稳妥,无所惧怕。

16 你必忘记你的苦楚,

回忆好象逝去的流水,

17 你们的人生必明亮如正午,

虽然黑暗仍像早晨。

18 因为有指望,你必安稳,

你必四处巡查,安然睡觉。

19 你躺卧,不受惊吓,

必有很多人求你的情面。

20 但恶人的眼目必昏花,

逃亡之路也必断绝,

他们的指望就是最后的一口气。”

Zophar Urges Job to Repent

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

“Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should [a]a man full of talk be vindicated?
Should your empty talk make men [b]hold their peace?
And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?
For you have said,
(A)‘My doctrine is pure,
And I am clean in your eyes.’
But oh, that God would speak,
And open His lips against you,
That He would show you the secrets of wisdom!
For they would double your prudence.
Know therefore that (B)God [c]exacts from you
Less than your iniquity deserves.

“Can(C) you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher than heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than [d]Sheol—what can you know?
Their measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.

10 “If(D) He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,
Then who can [e]hinder Him?
11 For (E)He knows deceitful men;
He sees wickedness also.
Will He not then consider it?
12 For an (F)empty-headed man will be wise,
When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

13 “If you would (G)prepare your heart,
And (H)stretch out your hands toward Him;
14 If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away,
And (I)would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 (J)Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;
Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;
16 Because you would (K)forget your misery,
And remember it as waters that have passed away,
17 And your life (L)would be brighter than noonday.
Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.
18 And you would be secure, because there is hope;
Yes, you would dig around you, and (M)take your rest in safety.
19 You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid;
Yes, many would court your favor.
20 But (N)the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And they shall not escape,
And (O)their hope—[f]loss of life!”

Footnotes

  1. Job 11:2 Lit. a man of lips
  2. Job 11:3 be silent
  3. Job 11:6 Lit. forgets some of your iniquity for you
  4. Job 11:8 The abode of the dead
  5. Job 11:10 restrain
  6. Job 11:20 Lit. the breathing out of life