約伯記 34
1 厄里烏接著說：
Then Elihu continued:
2 你們有智慧的人，請聽我言；你們明白人，請側耳聽我。
“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
3 原來耳朵是為辨別言語，有如口腔是為辨嘗食物。
For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
4 讓我們來檢討一下誰為正義，讓我們看看何者為善。
Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
5 約伯說過：「我是無罪的，但我的理，卻為天主奪去。
For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
6 我雖無罪無辜，卻成了說謊者；我雖未行不義，卻受了不可醫治的創傷。」
Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 那有一人像約伯，肆口漫罵如飲水﹖
What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
8 他豈不是與作惡的人結夥，同壞人交結來往﹖
He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
9 他豈不是說過：「盡心悅樂天主，為人能有什麼好處﹖」
For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’
10 為此，你們心地明白的人，請聽我說，天主決不行惡，全能者決無不義!
Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.
11 他必照人的行為報答他，按他的品行對待他。
For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.
12 天主絕對不能作惡，全能者絕對不能顛倒是非。
Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13 誰委派他掌管大地，誰任命他治理普世﹖
Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 他若將自己的神魂收回，將氣息復歸於自己，
If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
15 所有血肉的人必都消滅，世人都要歸於塵土。
all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16 若你聰明，請聽這事，側耳傾聽我的話。
If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
17 憎恨正義的，豈能掌權﹖而你竟敢定那至公義者的罪﹖
Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
18 他能稱君王為歹徒，能稱官吏為壞人。
who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19 他對權貴不顧情面，亦不重富輕貧，因為都是他一手造成的。
who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
20 他們猝然在半夜死去，貴族能立即氣絕逝世；他剷除權貴者，無須人手。
They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
21 因為他的眼監視人的動作，觀察他的行徑。
For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
22 沒有黑暗，也沒有陰影，可將作惡的人掩蔽。
There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.
23 天主不必給人指定時間，為使人到他前去受審。
For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
24 他粉碎權勢者，無須審察，即刻能派定別人代替他們。
He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
25 他原知道他們的行為，一夜之間將他們推翻消滅。
Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26 在眾目昭彰之下，鞭打他們有如罪犯。
He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
27 因為他們遠離了他，不重視他一切的道，
because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.
28 致使窮人的哀號上達於他，使他聽到了受苦者的哀求。
They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.
29 他若安息，誰敢騷擾﹖他若掩面，誰敢窺視﹖他對國對人都予以監視，
But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,
30 使凡欺壓人民的，不得為王。
that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.
31 如果惡人向天主說：「我受了欺騙，以後不再作惡。
Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
32 我所看不透的，求你指教我；我若以前作了孽，不敢再做了。」
Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
33 他施行報應，豈應隨你的心意﹖或者你能拒絕不受嗎﹖決定的是你，而不是我! 你若知道，儘管說罷!
Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed His? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.
34 但是心地聰明，具有智慧，且聽我說話的人，必要對我說：「
Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:
35 約伯所講的話毫無知識，他的話全不明智。」
‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
36 為此，約伯還要受徹底的究察，因為他的答覆好似出自惡人之口，
If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.
37 因為他在罪上又加反叛，當著我們磨拳擦掌，講出許多相反天主的話。
For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
