Elihu Speaks of God’s Dealings with Mankind

36 Then Elihu continued and said,

“Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there [a]is still more to be said on God’s behalf.
I will bring my knowledge from afar,
And ascribe (A)righteousness to my Maker.
For truly (B)my words are not false;
One who is (C)perfect in knowledge is with you.
Behold, God is mighty but does not (D)reject anyone;
He is (E)mighty in strength of understanding.
He does not (F)keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to (G)the afflicted.
He does not (H)withdraw His eyes from the righteous,
But (I)with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
And if they are bound in shackles,
And are caught in the snares of (J)misery,
Then He declares to them their work
And their wrongdoings, that they have (K)been arrogant.
10 (L)He opens their ears to instruction,
And (M)commands that they return from injustice.
11 If they listen and serve Him,
They will (N)end their days in prosperity,
And their years in (O)happiness.
12 But if they do not listen, they will [b]perish (P)by the sword,
And (Q)die without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart nurture anger;
They do not call for help when He binds them.
14 [c]They die in youth,
And their life perishes among the (R)cult prostitutes.
15 He rescues the afflicted in [d]their (S)misery,
And (T)opens their ears in time of oppression.
16 Then indeed, He induced you away from the mouth of distress,
And instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And your table was full of [e]rich food.

17 “But you were full of (U)judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Beware that (V)wrath does not entice you to mockery;
And do not let the greatness of the (W)ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your cry for help keep you from distress,
Or all the exertions of your strength?
20 Do not long for (X)the night,
When people [f]vanish in their places.
21 Be careful, do (Y)not turn to evil,
For you preferred this to (Z)misery.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a (AA)teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘(AB)You have done wrong’?

24 “Remember that you are to (AC)exalt His work,
Of which people have (AD)sung.
25 All people have seen it;
Mankind looks at it from afar.
26 Behold, God is (AE)exalted, and (AF)we do not know Him;
The (AG)number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For (AH)He draws up the drops of water;
They distill rain from its [g]celestial stream,
28 Which clouds pour down;
They drip upon mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand the (AI)spreading of the clouds,
The (AJ)thundering of His [h]pavilion?
30 Behold, He spreads His [i]lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by them He (AK)judges peoples;
He (AL)gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with the [j]lightning,
And (AM)commands it to strike the target.
33 Its (AN)thundering voice declares [k]His presence;
The livestock also, concerning what is coming up.

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:2 Lit are yet words for God
  2. Job 36:12 Lit pass away
  3. Job 36:14 Lit Their soul dies
  4. Job 36:15 Lit his
  5. Job 36:16 Or fatness
  6. Job 36:20 Lit go up
  7. Job 36:27 Or mist
  8. Job 36:29 Lit booth
  9. Job 36:30 Lit light
  10. Job 36:32 Lit light
  11. Job 36:33 Lit concerning Him

36 以利戶又說:
「再給我片刻,容我講明,
我還有話替上帝說。
我要旁徵博引,
證明我的創造主公義。
我的話絕非虛言,
知識全備者在你身旁。

「上帝有大能,但不藐視人,
祂無所不知。
祂不容惡人活命,
祂為窮苦人伸冤。
祂時時看顧義人,
使他們與君王同坐寶座,
永遠受尊崇。
他們若被鎖鏈捆綁,
被苦難的繩索纏住,
祂就會指明他們的所作所為,
讓他們知道自己狂妄的罪愆。
10 祂開啟他們的耳朵,使之受教,
督促他們離開罪惡。
11 他們若聽從、事奉祂,
就可一生幸福,安享天年。
12 否則,他們必死於刀下,
在無知中滅亡。
13 不信上帝的人心存憤怒,
被上帝捆綁也不求救。
14 他們盛年喪命,
與廟中的男妓一同夭亡。
15 上帝藉苦難拯救受苦的人,
藉患難開通他們的耳朵。
16 祂也要引領你脫離困境,
進入廣闊自由之地,
使你享受滿桌佳餚。

17 「但惡人應受的審判落在你身上,
你難逃審判和懲罰。
18 當心,不可因憤怒而嘲罵,
不可因贖金大就偏離正道。
19 難道你呼求、使出渾身力氣,
就能脫離困境嗎?
20 不要渴望黑夜來臨——
就是眾民被毀滅的時候。
21 當心,不可轉向罪惡,
因你喜歡罪惡勝於苦難。
22 看啊,上帝的能力無以倫比。
誰能像祂那樣賜人教誨?
23 誰能為祂指定道路?
誰能說祂行事不義?
24 人們都歌唱祂的作為,
你也要記得頌揚。
25 祂的作為,萬民都已看見,
世人從遠處目睹。
26 我們無法明白上帝的偉大,
祂的年歲無法數算。
27 祂吸取水滴,
使之在雲霧中化為雨,
28 從雲端沛然降下,
滋潤人間。
29 誰能明白雲層的鋪展,
及祂幔幕發出的雷聲?
30 祂在四圍鋪展閃電,
照亮大海的深處。
31 祂藉此治理萬民,
賜下豐富的食物。
32 祂手握閃電,
令它射向目標。
33 雷聲顯明祂的作為,
就連牲畜也能察覺。

36 Elihu continued:

“Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
    that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
I get my knowledge from afar;(A)
    I will ascribe justice to my Maker.(B)
Be assured that my words are not false;(C)
    one who has perfect knowledge(D) is with you.(E)

“God is mighty,(F) but despises no one;(G)
    he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.(H)
He does not keep the wicked alive(I)
    but gives the afflicted their rights.(J)
He does not take his eyes off the righteous;(K)
    he enthrones them with kings(L)
    and exalts them forever.(M)
But if people are bound in chains,(N)
    held fast by cords of affliction,(O)
he tells them what they have done—
    that they have sinned arrogantly.(P)
10 He makes them listen(Q) to correction(R)
    and commands them to repent of their evil.(S)
11 If they obey and serve him,(T)
    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity(U)
    and their years in contentment.(V)
12 But if they do not listen,
    they will perish by the sword[a](W)
    and die without knowledge.(X)

13 “The godless in heart(Y) harbor resentment;(Z)
    even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.(AA)
14 They die in their youth,(AB)
    among male prostitutes of the shrines.(AC)
15 But those who suffer(AD) he delivers in their suffering;(AE)
    he speaks(AF) to them in their affliction.(AG)

16 “He is wooing(AH) you from the jaws of distress
    to a spacious place(AI) free from restriction,(AJ)
    to the comfort of your table(AK) laden with choice food.(AL)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;(AM)
    judgment and justice have taken hold of you.(AN)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
    do not let a large bribe(AO) turn you aside.(AP)
19 Would your wealth(AQ) or even all your mighty efforts
    sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Do not long for the night,(AR)
    to drag people away from their homes.[b]
21 Beware of turning to evil,(AS)
    which you seem to prefer to affliction.(AT)

22 “God is exalted in his power.(AU)
    Who is a teacher like him?(AV)
23 Who has prescribed his ways(AW) for him,(AX)
    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(AY)
24 Remember to extol his work,(AZ)
    which people have praised in song.(BA)
25 All humanity has seen it;(BB)
    mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!(BC)
    The number of his years is past finding out.(BD)

27 “He draws up the drops of water,(BE)
    which distill as rain to the streams[c];(BF)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers(BG) fall on mankind.(BH)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
    how he thunders(BI) from his pavilion?(BJ)
30 See how he scatters his lightning(BK) about him,
    bathing the depths of the sea.(BL)
31 This is the way he governs[d] the nations(BM)
    and provides food(BN) in abundance.(BO)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its mark.(BP)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;(BQ)
    even the cattle make known its approach.[e](BR)

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:12 Or will cross the river
  2. Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
  3. Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain
  4. Job 36:31 Or nourishes
  5. Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil

Elihu Proclaims God’s Goodness

36 Elihu also proceeded and said:

“Bear with me a little, and I will show you
That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
I will fetch my knowledge from afar;
I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

“Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one;
(A)He is mighty in strength [a]of understanding.
He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
But gives justice to the (B)oppressed.
(C)He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But (D)they are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.
And (E)if they are bound in [b]fetters,
Held in the cords of affliction,
Then He tells them their work and their transgressions—
That they have acted [c]defiantly.
10 (F)He also opens their ear to [d]instruction,
And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him,
They shall (G)spend their days in prosperity,
And their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not obey,
They shall perish by the sword,
And they shall die [e]without (H)knowledge.

13 “But the hypocrites in heart (I)store up wrath;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 (J)They[f] die in youth,
And their life ends among the [g]perverted persons.
15 He delivers the poor in their affliction,
And opens their ears in oppression.

16 “Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress,
(K)Into a broad place where there is no restraint;
And (L)what is set on your table would be full of (M)richness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due the (N)wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow;
For (O)a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19 (P)Will your riches,
Or all the mighty forces,
Keep you from distress?
20 Do not desire the night,
When people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, (Q)do not turn to iniquity,
For (R)you have chosen this rather than affliction.

22 “Behold, God is exalted by His power;
Who teaches like Him?
23 (S)Who has assigned Him His way,
Or who has said, ‘You have done (T)wrong’?

Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty

24 “Remember to (U)magnify His work,
Of which men have sung.
25 Everyone has seen it;
Man looks on it from afar.

26 “Behold, God is great, and we (V)do not know Him;
(W)Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
27 For He (X)draws up drops of water,
Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 (Y)Which the clouds drop down
And pour abundantly on man.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds,
The thunder from His canopy?
30 Look, He (Z)scatters His light upon it,
And covers the depths of the sea.
31 For (AA)by these He judges the peoples;
He (AB)gives food in abundance.
32 (AC)He covers His hands with lightning,
And commands it to [h]strike.
33 (AD)His thunder declares it,
The cattle also, concerning [i]the rising storm.

Footnotes

  1. Job 36:5 of heart
  2. Job 36:8 chains
  3. Job 36:9 proudly
  4. Job 36:10 discipline
  5. Job 36:12 MT as one without knowledge
  6. Job 36:14 Lit. Their soul dies
  7. Job 36:14 Heb. qedeshim, those practicing sodomy or prostitution in religious rituals
  8. Job 36:32 strike the mark
  9. Job 36:33 Lit. what is rising