約伯記 36
1 厄里烏又接著說：
And Elihu continued:
2 你且等一會，容我教導你，因為為天主，我還有些話要說。
“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.
3 我要將我所知的傳到遠方，將正義歸於我的造主。
I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
4 的確，我的話正確無偽，知識全備的人同你一起。
For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 的確，天主寬宏大量，決不藐視任何人，並且有廣大的同情心。
Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 他決不容許惡人生存，但給窮苦人伸冤；
He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.
7 他也不剝奪義人的權利。他使君王永久坐在寶座上，但是他們卻驕矜自大；
He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
8 故此，當他們一旦被鎖鏈束縛，被痛苦的繩索所繫，
And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,
9 天主就向他們指明他們的惡行，和他們所誇耀的過犯，
then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
10 開啟他們的耳朵，以聽訓戒，囑咐他們離開邪惡。
He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 如果他們服從順命，便能幸福地度過歲月，能安樂地享受天年。
If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.
12 如果不服從，必被射死，於不知不覺中逝去。
But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
13 心術敗壞的人，憤怒填胸，縱被囚禁，仍不呼求救助；
The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.
14 他們必早年夭折，喪命如男倡。
They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.
15 所以天主藉痛苦拯救受難的人，以患難開啟他們的耳鼓。
God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.
16 他也要救你擺脫災難，領你到廣闊自由之地，在你桌上常擺滿肥饌美味；
Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.
17 無如你判斷與惡人完全一樣，那麼懲罰和判案必集於你身。
But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.
18 小心! 不要讓忿怒引你肆口謾罵，也不要為重罰讓你離棄正道。
Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.
19 你的哀號和你所有的力量，豈能使你擺脫患難﹖
Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?
20 不要希望黑夜，那是人民由本地被劫去的時候。
Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.
21 小心! 別傾向不義，因為這正是你遭難的真正原因。
Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.
22 天主的能力確實偉大，那有像他那樣的主宰﹖
Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?
23 誰能規定他的道路，誰敢說：你行的不對﹖
Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 你應記住要讚頌他的工程，這是人們應歌詠的。
Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.
25 人人都能觀賞，都能從遠處仰望：
All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.
26 天主何其偉大，我們不能理解! 他的歲數，無法考究。
Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.
27 他汲取水滴，使水氣化為雨露，
For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,
28 雨即從雲中傾盆而降，沛然落在眾人身上。
which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.
29 但誰能明瞭雲彩怎樣散布，天幕中怎樣發出隆隆之聲﹖
Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?
30 他將雲霧展開，遮蓋了群山山頂。
See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.
31 他藉此養育萬民，賜給他們豐富的食糧。
For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.
32 他掌中握著電光，對準目標發射出去。
He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
33 雷霆報告他的來臨，他的怒火將要懲罰邪惡。
The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.
