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34 Elihu continued:

Hear my words, wise ones;
        knowledgeable ones, listen to me,
    for the ear tests words
        like the palate tastes food.
Let’s choose for us what’s right;
    let’s determine among ourselves what’s good;
    for Job has said, “I’m innocent;
        God has denied my just cause;
    because of my cause I’m thought a liar;
        my wound from an arrow is incurable, even though I didn’t rebel.”
Who is a man like Job?
    He drinks mockery like water
    and travels a path with wrongdoers,
        walking with evil persons.
Indeed he said, “No one is rewarded
    for delighting in God.”
10 Therefore, intelligent ones, hear me;
    far be it from God to do evil
    and the Almighty to sin,
11     for he repays people based on what they do,
        paying back everyone according to their ways.
12 Surely God doesn’t act wickedly;
    the Almighty doesn’t distort justice.
13 Who placed earth in his care,
    and who gave him dominion over the entire world?
14 If he were to decide to do it—
    to gather his spirit and breath back to himself—
15         all flesh would die together,
        and humans would return to dust.

16 But if you have understanding, hear this;
    pay attention to the sound of my words.
17 Will one who hates justice rule;
    will you condemn the most righteous one?
18 Will you say to a king, “Worthless!”
    to royalty, “Evil!”
19 Who shows no favor to princes
        nor regards the rich over the poor,
    for they are all the work of God’s hands?
20     In the middle of the night they suddenly die;
        people are shaken and pass away.
    The mighty are removed, not by a human hand.
21 God’s eyes are on human ways,
    and he sees all their steps.
22 There’s no darkness, no deep darkness,
    where evildoers can hide themselves;
23     surely no time is set for a person
    to appear before God in judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without examining them;
    makes others take their place.
25 Thus he regards their deeds,
    overturns them at night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them because of their wickedness
    at a place where people can see it.
27 Because they turned from following him
        and didn’t value all his ways,
28         causing the cry of the poor to reach him,
    he hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 Still, if he remains quiet, who can condemn;
    if he hides his face, who can see him?
30 He prevents a lawless person from ruling,
    from capturing people.

31 Has Job said to God,
    “I have borne punishment; I won’t sin again?
32 You teach me what I can’t see;
    if I’ve sinned, I won’t do it again.”
33 Will he repay you because you reject sin,
    for you must choose, not I;
    declare what you know.
34 Smart people say to me,
        the wise who hear me,
35     “Job speaks without knowledge;
        his words aren’t astute.”
36 I wish Job would be tested to the limit
    because he responds like evil people.
37 He adds rebellion to his sin;
    mocks us openly
    and adds to his words against God.

以利户责约伯自义向神烦言

34 以利户又说: “你们智慧人,要听我的话;有知识的人,要留心听我说。 因为耳朵试验话语,好像上膛尝食物。 我们当选择何为是,彼此知道何为善。 约伯曾说:‘我是公义,神夺去我的理。 我虽有理,还算为说谎言的;我虽无过,受的伤还不能医治。’ 谁像约伯,喝讥诮如同喝水呢? 他与作孽的结伴,和恶人同行。 他说,人以神为乐总是无益。

10 “所以你们明理的人,要听我的话:神断不至行恶,全能者断不至作孽。 11 他必按人所做的报应人,使各人照所行的得报。 12 神必不作恶,全能者也不偏离公平。 13 谁派他治理地,安定全世界呢? 14 他若专心为己,将灵和气收归自己, 15 凡有血气的就必一同死亡,世人必仍归尘土。

16 “你若明理,就当听我的话,留心听我言语的声音。 17 难道恨恶公平的可以掌权吗?那有公义的,有大能的,岂可定他有罪吗? 18 他对君王说:‘你是鄙陋的!’对贵臣说:‘你是邪恶的!’ 19 他待王子不徇情面,也不看重富足的过于贫穷的,因为都是他手所造。 20 在转眼之间,半夜之中,他们就死亡,百姓被震动而去世,有权力的被夺去非借人手。

21 “神注目观看人的道路,看明人的脚步。 22 没有黑暗、阴翳能给作孽的藏身。 23 神审判人,不必使人到他面前再三鉴察。 24 他用难测之法打破有能力的人,设立别人代替他们。 25 他原知道他们的行为,使他们在夜间倾倒灭亡。 26 他在众人眼前击打他们,如同击打恶人一样。 27 因为他们偏行不跟从他,也不留心他的道, 28 甚至使贫穷人的哀声达到他那里,他也听了困苦人的哀声。 29 他使人安静,谁能扰乱[a]呢?他掩面,谁能见他呢?无论待一国或一人,都是如此, 30 使不虔敬的人不得做王,免得有人牢笼百姓。

31 “有谁对神说‘我受了责罚,不再犯罪。 32 我所看不明的,求你指教我。我若作了孽,必不再做’? 33 他施行报应,岂要随你的心愿,叫你推辞不受吗?选定的是你,不是我,你所知道的只管说吧! 34 明理的人和听我话的智慧人,必对我说: 35 约伯说话没有知识,言语中毫无智慧。’ 36 约伯被试验到底,因他回答像恶人一样。 37 他在罪上又加悖逆,在我们中间拍手,用许多言语轻慢神。”

Footnotes

  1. 约伯记 34:29 或作:定罪。

Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice

34 Elihu further answered and said:

“Hear my words, you wise men;
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
(A)For the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
Let us choose justice for ourselves;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.

“For Job has said, (B)‘I am righteous,
But (C)God has taken away my justice;
(D)Should I lie concerning my right?
My [a]wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
What man is like Job,
(E)Who drinks [b]scorn like water,
Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
For (F)he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
That he should delight in God.’

10 “Therefore listen to me, you [c]men of understanding:
(G)Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11 (H)For He repays man according to his work,
And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
12 Surely God will never do wickedly,
Nor will the Almighty (I)pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?
Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 If He should set His heart on it,
If He should (J)gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 (K)All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.

16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words:
17 (L)Should one who hates justice govern?
Will you (M)condemn Him who is most just?
18 (N)Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’
And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
19 Yet He (O)is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For (P)they are all the work of His hands.
20 In a moment they die, (Q)in the middle of the night;
The people are shaken and pass away;
The mighty are taken away without a hand.

21 “For(R) His eyes are on the ways of man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 (S)There is no darkness nor shadow of death
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For He need not further consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 (T)He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their works;
He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men
In the open sight of others,
27 Because they (U)turned back from Him,
And (V)would not consider any of His ways,
28 So that they (W)caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
For He (X)hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—
30 That the hypocrite should not reign,
Lest the people be ensnared.

31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastening;
I will offend no more;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33 Should He repay it according to your terms,
Just because you disavow it?
You must choose, and not I;
Therefore speak what you know.

34 “Men of understanding say to me,
Wise men who listen to me:
35 ‘Job(Y) speaks without knowledge,
His words are without wisdom.’
36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
37 For he adds (Z)rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 34:6 Lit. arrow
  2. Job 34:7 derision
  3. Job 34:10 men of heart

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