約伯記 34

1 厄里烏接著說：

Moreover Elihu answered and said:

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, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

3 原來耳朵是為辨別言語，有如口腔是為辨嘗食物。

For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth 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 us that which is right; let us know among ourselves 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 hath said: 'I am righteous, and God hath taken away my right;

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。」

Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; 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 drinketh up scorning like water?

8 他豈不是與作惡的人結夥，同壞人交結來往﹖

Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh 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 hath said: 'It profiteth a man nothing that he should be in accord with 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 hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, that He should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that He should commit iniquity.

11 他必照人的行為報答他，按他的品行對待他。

For the work of a man will He requite unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 天主絕對不能作惡，全能者絕對不能顛倒是非。

Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

13 誰委派他掌管大地，誰任命他治理普世﹖

Who gave Him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?

14 他若將自己的神魂收回，將氣息復歸於自己，

If He set His heart upon man, if He gather unto Himself his spirit and his breath;

15 所有血肉的人必都消滅，世人都要歸於塵土。

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return unto dust.

16 若你聰明，請聽這事，側耳傾聽我的話。

If now thou hast understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words.

17 憎恨正義的，豈能掌權﹖而你竟敢定那至公義者的罪﹖

Shall even one that hateth right govern? And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty —

18 他能稱君王為歹徒，能稱官吏為壞人。

Is it fit to say to a king: 'Thou art base'? Or to nobles: 'Ye 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。

That respecteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they all are 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。

In a moment they die, even at midnight; the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.

21 因為他的眼監視人的動作，觀察他的行徑。

For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He seeth all his goings.

22 沒有黑暗，也沒有陰影，可將作惡的人掩蔽。

There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 天主不必給人指定時間，為使人到他前去受審。

For He doth not appoint a time unto any man, when he should go before God in judgment.

24 他粉碎權勢者，無須審察，即刻能派定別人代替他們。

He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquisition, and setteth others in their stead.

25 他原知道他們的行為，一夜之間將他們推翻消滅。

Therefore He taketh knowledge of their works; and He overturneth them in the night, so that they are crushed.

26 在眾目昭彰之下，鞭打他們有如罪犯。

He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27 因為他們遠離了他，不重視他一切的道，

Because they turned aside from following Him, and would not have regard to 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。

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him, and He heareth the cry 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，

When He giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when He hideth His face, who then can behold Him? whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man, alike;

30 使凡欺壓人民的，不得為王。

That the godless man reign not, that there be none to ensnare the people.

31 如果惡人向天主說：「我受了欺騙，以後不再作惡。

For hath any said unto God: 'I have borne chastisement, though I offend not;

32 我所看不透的，求你指教我；我若以前作了孽，不敢再做了。」

That which I see not teach Thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

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!

Shall His recompense be as thou wilt? For thou loathest it, so that thou must choose, and not I; therefore speak what thou knowest.

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 say unto me, yea, every wise man that heareth me:

35 約伯所講的話毫無知識，他的話全不明智。」

'Job speaketh without knowledge, and his words are without discernment.'

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，

Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

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 addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.