34 Then Elihu continued,[a] saying:

Hear my words, you wise ones,
and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.
Doesn’t the ear test words
as the palate tastes food?
Let us judge for ourselves what is right;
let us decide together what is good.
For Job has declared, “I am righteous,
yet God has deprived me of justice.(A)
Would I lie about my case?(B)
My wound[b] is incurable,
though I am without transgression.”
What man is like Job?
He drinks derision(C) like water.
He keeps company with evildoers
and walks with wicked men.
For he has said, “A man gains nothing
when he becomes God’s friend.”(D)

10 Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding.
It is impossible for God to do wrong,
and for the Almighty to act unjustly.(E)
11 For he repays(F) a person according to his deeds,
and he gives him what his conduct deserves.[c]
12 Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly
and the Almighty does not pervert justice.(G)
13 Who gave him authority over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the entire world?(H)
14 If he put his mind to it
and withdrew the spirit(I) and breath he gave,
15 every living thing would perish together
and mankind would return to the dust.(J)

16 If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I have to say.
17 Could one who hates justice govern the world?
Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One,(K)
18 who says to a king, “Worthless man!”
and to nobles, “Wicked men!”?(L)
19 God is not partial(M) to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands.
20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night;
people shudder, then pass away.
Even the mighty are removed without effort.

21 For his eyes watch over a man’s ways,
and he observes all his steps.(N)
22 There is no darkness, no deep darkness,
where evildoers can hide.(O)
23 God does not need to examine a person further,
that one should[d] approach him in court.
24 He shatters the mighty without an investigation
and sets others in their place.(P)
25 Therefore, he recognizes their deeds(Q)
and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed.
26 In full view of the public,[e]
he strikes them for their wickedness,
27 because they turned aside from following him
and did not understand any of his ways
28 but caused the poor to cry out to him,
and he heard the outcry of the needy.(R)
29 But when God is silent, who can declare him guilty?
When he hides his face, who can see him?
Yet he watches over both individuals and nations,
30 so that godless men should not rule
or ensnare the people.

31 Suppose someone says to God,
“I have endured my punishment;
I will no longer act wickedly.
32 Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong, I won’t do it again.”
33 Should God repay you on your terms
when you have rejected his?
You must choose, not I!
So declare what you know.
34 Reasonable men will say to me,
along with the wise men who hear me,
35 “Job speaks without knowledge;(S)
his words are without insight.”
36 If only Job were tested to the limit,
because his answers are like those of wicked men.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;
he scornfully claps(T) in our presence,
while multiplying(U) his words against God.

Footnotes

  1. 34:1 Lit answered
  2. 34:6 Lit arrow
  3. 34:11 Lit and like a path of a man, he causes him to find
  4. 34:23 Some emend to God has not appointed a time for man to
  5. 34:26 Lit In a place of spectators

責約伯自義

34 以利戶回答,說:

“智慧人哪!你們要聽我的話;

有知識的人哪!你們要側耳聽我。

因為耳朵試驗言語,

好像上膛嘗試食物。

我們要選擇何為是,

讓我們彼此知道何為善。

約伯說:‘我是有理的,

 神卻奪去我的公理;

我雖然有公理,卻被認為是說謊的;

我雖然毫無過犯,我所受的箭傷卻無法醫治。’

有哪一個人像約伯呢?

他喝褻慢如同喝水,

他與作孽的同夥,

他與惡人同行。

因為他說過:‘人討 神的喜悅,

對他並無益處。’

 神是公義的

10 所以,明理的人哪!你們要聽我的話,

 神決不至作惡,全能者斷不至行不義,

11 因為 神必照著人所作的報應他,

使各人按照所行的得報應。

12 真的, 神必不作惡,

全能者也必不顛倒是非。

13 誰派他管理大地?

誰設立全世界呢?

14 他若對人決心這樣作,

他若把靈與氣收歸自己,

15 有血肉生命的就都一同氣絕身亡,

世人都歸回塵土。

16 你若明理,就請聽這話,

留心聽我說話的聲音。

17 恨惡公平的真的可以掌權嗎?

那有公義與大能的,你定他為有罪嗎?

18 他不是對君王說:‘你是匪徒’,

又對貴族說:‘你們是惡人’嗎?

19 他不徇王子的情面,

也不看重富人過於窮人,

因為他們都是他手所造的。

 神明察秋毫

20 他們在半夜之中剎那之間死亡,

平民因遭受震動而去世,

有權勢的被除滅非借人手。

21  神的眼看顧人的道路,

察看他每一步,

22 沒有黑暗,又沒有死蔭的地方,

可以給作孽的在那裡藏身。

23  神不必進一步鑒察人,

使人到他面前去受審判。

24 他不必查究就可以打碎有權勢的人,

並且設立別人代替他們。

25 他原來留心他們所行的,

在夜間傾覆他們,他們就被壓碎;

26 他在觀眾面前擊打他們,

有如擊打惡人一樣;

27 因為他們偏離正道不跟從他,

也不留心他的一切道路,

28 以致窮人的哀求達到他那裡,

他也垂聽了困苦人的哀求。

29 他若安靜不動,誰能定他有罪呢?

他若掩面,誰能看見他呢?

無論對待一國或一人,都是這樣。

30 別讓不敬虔的人作王,

免得他危害人民。

31 有人對 神說:

‘我忍受了管教,不再有敗壞的行為了,

32 我所看不到的求你指教我,

我若行了罪孽,必不再行’。

33  神會因你拒絕悔改,

就遵照你的心意嗎?

要作抉擇的是你,不是我,

你所知道的,只管說出來吧。

34 明理的人必對我說,

智慧的人要聽我的話。

35 約伯說話毫無知識,

他的言語沒有智慧。

36 但願約伯被試驗到底,

因為他的回答像惡人一樣。

37 他在自己的罪上又加過犯,

在我們中間鼓掌嘲笑 神,

用許多話敵對 神。”

34 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

Hear my words, O ye chachamim; and give ear unto me, ye that have da’as.

For the ozen trieth words, as the mouth tasteth food.

Let us choose for ourselves what is mishpat (right); let us know among ourselves what is tov.

For Iyov hath said, I am innocent; and El hath taken away my mishpat (right).

I declare the mishpat (case) against me a lie; though without peysha, my arrow wound is incurable.

What gever is like Iyov, who drinketh up the scorn [of his friends] like mayim?

Who goeth in chaverah with the po’alei aven (workers of iniquity, evildoers), and walketh with anshei resha.

For he hath said, It profiteth a gever nothing that he should please Elohim.

10 Therefore pay heed unto me ye anashei levav (men of understanding); far be it from El, that He should do evil, and from Shaddai, that He should do wrong.

11 For the po’al adam (work of a man) shall He repay unto him, and make every man to find according to the man’s ways.

12 Yea, surely El will not do wickedly, neither will Shaddai pervert mishpat (justice).

13 Who hath given Him right to rule the earth? Or who hath appointed Him over the tevel?

14 If He should so determine, if He gather unto Himself His Ruach and His Neshamah,

15 All basar would perish together, and adam would return unto aphar.

16 If now thou hast binah, hear this: pay heed to the kol (voice) of my words.

17 Shall even one that hateth mishpat (right) govern? And wilt thou condemn Him that is Tzaddik and Kabir (the Mighty One)?

18 Is it fit to say to a melech, Thou art beli’ya’al? And to nobles, Ye are rasha.

19 Who shows no partiality to sarim (princes), nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they all are the ma’aseh (work) of His hands.

20 In a moment shall they die, and at chatzot lailah the people shall be shaken, and pass away, and the mighty shall be taken away without human hand.

21 For His eyes are upon the darkhei ish and He seeth all his goings.

22 There is no choshech, nor tzalmavet, where the po’alei aven (evildoers) may hide themselves.

23 For He does not need to consider an ish further for anyone to go before El in mispat (judgment).

24 He shall break in pieces kabirim (mighty men) without investigation, and sets acherim (others) in their place.

25 Therefore He knoweth their works, and He overthroweth them in the lailah, so that they are crushed.

26 He striketh them as resha’im in the open sight of others;

27 Because they turned back from following Him, and would not regard any of His drakhim;

28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto Him, and He heareth the cry of the aniyim.

29 When He giveth quietness, who then can condemn? When He hideth His panim, who then can behold Him? Whether it be a nation, or an individual only?

30 That the chanef (hypocrite) reign not, nor those who ensnare the people.

31 For has anyone said unto El, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more;

32 Teach Thou me what I see not; im (if) I have done iniquity, I will do no more?

33 Will He then recompense to suit you, just because you disavow it? Thou must choose, not I; therefore speak that of which thou hast da’as.

34 Let anshei levav (men of understanding) say to me, and let a gever chacham who pays heed unto me say,

35 Iyov hath spoken without da’as, and his words were without seichel.

36 Iyov ought to be tried unto the limit, because his answers are those of anshei aven.

37 For he addeth peysha unto his chattat, he clappeth his hands [shaking fist at G-d] among us, and multiplieth his words against El.

34 Then Elihu said:

“Hear my words, you wise men;
    listen to me,(A) you men of learning.
For the ear tests words
    as the tongue tastes food.(B)
Let us discern for ourselves what is right;(C)
    let us learn together what is good.(D)

“Job says, ‘I am innocent,(E)
    but God denies me justice.(F)
Although I am right,
    I am considered a liar;(G)
although I am guiltless,(H)
    his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’(I)
Is there anyone like Job,
    who drinks scorn like water?(J)
He keeps company with evildoers;
    he associates with the wicked.(K)
For he says, ‘There is no profit
    in trying to please God.’(L)

10 “So listen to me,(M) you men of understanding.(N)
    Far be it from God to do evil,(O)
    from the Almighty to do wrong.(P)
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;(Q)
    he brings on them what their conduct deserves.(R)
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,(S)
    that the Almighty would pervert justice.(T)
13 Who appointed(U) him over the earth?
    Who put him in charge of the whole world?(V)
14 If it were his intention
    and he withdrew his spirit[a](W) and breath,(X)
15 all humanity would perish(Y) together
    and mankind would return to the dust.(Z)

16 “If you have understanding,(AA) hear this;
    listen to what I say.(AB)
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?(AC)
    Will you condemn the just and mighty One?(AD)
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
    and to nobles,(AE) ‘You are wicked,’(AF)
19 who shows no partiality(AG) to princes
    and does not favor the rich over the poor,(AH)
    for they are all the work of his hands?(AI)
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;(AJ)
    the people are shaken and they pass away;
    the mighty are removed without human hand.(AK)

21 “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;(AL)
    he sees their every step.(AM)
22 There is no deep shadow,(AN) no utter darkness,(AO)
    where evildoers can hide.(AP)
23 God has no need to examine people further,(AQ)
    that they should come before him for judgment.(AR)
24 Without inquiry he shatters(AS) the mighty(AT)
    and sets up others in their place.(AU)
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,(AV)
    he overthrows them in the night(AW) and they are crushed.(AX)
26 He punishes them for their wickedness(AY)
    where everyone can see them,
27 because they turned from following him(AZ)
    and had no regard for any of his ways.(BA)
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
    so that he heard the cry of the needy.(BB)
29 But if he remains silent,(BC) who can condemn him?(BD)
    If he hides his face,(BE) who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,(BF)
30     to keep the godless(BG) from ruling,(BH)
    from laying snares for the people.(BI)

31 “Suppose someone says to God,
    ‘I am guilty(BJ) but will offend no more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see;(BK)
    if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’(BL)
33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
    when you refuse to repent?(BM)
You must decide, not I;
    so tell me what you know.

34 “Men of understanding declare,
    wise men who hear me say to me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge;(BN)
    his words lack insight.’(BO)
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
    for answering like a wicked man!(BP)
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
    scornfully he claps his hands(BQ) among us
    and multiplies his words(BR) against God.”(BS)

Footnotes

  1. Job 34:14 Or Spirit