< 約伯記 36 >
Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 你且等一會,容我教導你,因為為天主,我還有些話要說。
Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to say on God’s behalf.
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
For truly my words are not false: one that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
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。
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength of understanding.
He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth to the afflicted [their] right.
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 withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings upon the throne he setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.
8 故此,當他們一旦被鎖鏈束縛,被痛苦的繩索所繫,
And if they be bound in fetters, and be taken in the 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 sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10 開啟他們的耳朵,以聽訓戒,囑咐他們離開邪惡。
He openeth also their ear to instruction, and commandeth that they return 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 hearken and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13 心術敗壞的人,憤怒填胸,縱被囚禁,仍不呼求救助;
But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: they cry not for help when he bindeth them.
They die in youth, and their life [perisheth] among the unclean.
15 所以天主藉痛苦拯救受難的人,以患難開啟他們的耳鼓。
He delivereth the afflicted by his affliction, and openeth their ear 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;
Yea, he would have led thee away out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table should be full of fatness.
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 thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].
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。
Because there is wrath, beware lest thou be led away by [thy] sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.
Will thy riches suffice, [that thou be] not in distress, or all the forces of [thy] strength?
Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.
21 小心! 別傾向不義,因為這正是你遭難的真正原因。
Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: who is a teacher like unto him?
Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
Remember that thou magnify his work, whereof men have sung.
All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off.
26 天主何其偉大,我們不能理解! 他的歲數,無法考究。
Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.
For he draweth up the drops of water, which distil in rain from his vapour:
Which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.
29 但誰能明瞭雲彩怎樣散布,天幕中怎樣發出隆隆之聲﹖
Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?
Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; and he covereth the bottom of the sea.
For by these he judgeth the peoples; he giveth meat in abundance.
He covereth his hands with the lightning; and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.
The noise thereof telleth concerning him, the cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up.