Job 35
New Catholic Bible
Elihu’s Third Speech[a]
Chapter 35
How Does Human Conduct Affect God? 1 Then Elihu continued his speech, saying:
2 “Do you think that you can defend your uprightness
by claiming that you are just before God?
3 For you said: ‘What does it mean to you?
Or what would you gain if I sinned?’
4 I will provide an answer for you
and your three friends as well.
5 “Look up to the skies and see;
observe the clouds towering above you.
6 If you sin, how can that affect God?
And if your offenses are multiplied, how do you hurt him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you give him?
What does he receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness affects only someone like you,
and your righteousness affects only your fellow men.
No One Asks, “Where Is God?”
9 “People cry out under the weight of oppression;
they cry for help against the power of the mighty.
10 But not one of them asks, ‘Where is God, my Maker,
who protects me during the night,
11 who gave us greater intelligence than the animals of the earth
and made us wiser than the birds of the air?’
12 Although they cry out, God does not answer
because of the pride of the wicked.
13 “But it is foolish to say that God does not hear
or that the Almighty does not pay attention.
14 Even though you do not see him,
he is aware of your plight,
and you must wait for his decision.
15 But now, because God does not grow angry and punish
and because he allows transgressions to go unheeded,
16 Job gives vent to his anger with empty talk
and babbles a stream of utter nonsense.”
Footnotes
- Job 35:1 The silence of God is what upsets human beings. Is the Eternal One perhaps indifferent to human tragedies? Elihu looks for a different explanation: God is silent because unhappy human beings lack faith in their prayers, and they sin through pride. But the entire passage is obscure in its development.
约伯记 35
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
35 以利户又说：
2 “你在上帝面前自以为义，
你认为这合理吗？
3 你还说，‘这与我何干？
我不犯罪又有何益处？’
4 我要答复你和你的朋友。
5 要抬头观看诸天，
瞻望头顶的穹苍。
6 你若犯罪，与上帝何妨？
你若罪恶累累，对祂有何影响？
7 你若为人公义，与祂何益？
祂从你手上能得什么好处？
8 你的罪恶只能伤害你的同类，
你的公义只能令世人受益。
9 “人们因饱受压迫而呼求，
因强权者的压制而求救。
10 但无人问，‘创造我的上帝在哪里？
祂使人夜间欢唱，
11 使我们比地上的走兽聪明，
比天上的飞鸟有智慧。’
12 他们因恶人的嚣张而呼求，
上帝却不回答。
13 上帝必不垂听虚妄的呼求，
全能者必不理会。
14 更何况你说你看不见祂，
你的案子已呈上，在等祂裁决。
15 你还说祂没有发怒降罚，
也不理会罪恶。
16 约伯啊，这尽是虚言，
是一大堆无知的话。”
Job 35
Revised Standard Version
Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
35 And Eli′hu said:
2 “Do you think this to be just?
Do you say, ‘It is my right before God,’
3 that you ask, ‘What advantage have I?
How am I better off than if I had sinned?’
4 I will answer you
and your friends with you.
5 Look at the heavens, and see;
and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
6 If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him?
And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him;
or what does he receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself,
and your righteousness a son of man.
9 “Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out;
they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
who gives songs in the night,
11 who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’
12 There they cry out, but he does not answer,
because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God does not hear an empty cry,
nor does the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when you say that you do not see him,
that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him!
15 And now, because his anger does not punish,
and he does not greatly heed transgression,[a]
16 Job opens his mouth in empty talk,
he multiplies words without knowledge.”
Footnotes
- Job 35:15 Theodotion Symmachus Compare Vg: The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.