約伯記 22

1 提幔人以利法回答說：

Then Eliphaz the Themanite responded by saying:

2 人豈能使上帝有益呢？ 智慧人但能有益於己。

Can man be compared with God, even if he were perfect in knowledge?

3 你為人公義，豈叫全能者喜悅呢？ 你行為完全，豈能使他得利呢？

What advantage is it to God, if you were just? Or what do you provide for him, if your way should be immaculate?

4 豈是因你敬畏他 就責備你、審判你嗎？

Will he reprove you and take you to judgment for being afraid,

5 你的罪惡豈不是大嗎？ 你的罪孽也沒有窮盡；

and not because of your many evil deeds and your infinite unfairness?

6 因你無故強取弟兄的物為當頭， 剝去貧寒人的衣服。

For you have taken away the collateral of your brothers without cause, and stripped them naked of their clothing.

7 困乏的人，你沒有給他水喝； 飢餓的人，你沒有給他食物。

You have not given water to the weary; you have taken bread away from the hungry.

8 有能力的人就得地土； 尊貴的人也住在其中。

By the strength of your arm, you took possession of the land, and you retain it by being the strongest.

9 你打發寡婦空手回去， 折斷孤兒的膀臂。

You have sent widows away empty, and you have crushed the shoulders of orphans.

10 因此，有網羅環繞你， 有恐懼忽然使你驚惶；

Because of this, you are surrounded by traps, and unexpected fears will disturb you.

11 或有黑暗蒙蔽你， 並有洪水淹沒你。

And did you think that you would not see darkness and that you were not to be overwhelmed by the onrush of overflowing waters?

12 上帝豈不是在高天嗎？ 你看星宿何其高呢！

Have you not considered that God is higher than the heavens and is lifted above the height of the stars?

13 你說：上帝知道甚麼？ 他豈能看透幽暗施行審判呢？

And you say: “Well, what does God know?” and, “He judges, as if through a fog,”

14 密雲將他遮蓋，使他不能看見； 他周遊穹蒼。

and, “The clouds are his hiding-place,” and, “He does not examine us closely,” and, “He makes his rounds at the limits of the heavens.”

15 你要依從上古的道嗎？ 這道是惡人所行的。

Do you not want to tend the path of the ages, which wicked men have spurned?

16 他們未到死期，忽然除滅； 根基毀壞，好像被江河沖去。

These were taken away before their time, and a flood overthrew their foundation.

17 他們向上帝說：離開我們吧！ 又說：全能者能把我們怎麼樣呢？

They said to God, “Withdraw from us,” and they treated the Almighty as if he could do nothing,

18 哪知上帝以美物充滿他們的房屋； 但惡人所謀定的離我好遠。

though he had filled their houses with good things. May their way of thinking be far from me.

19 義人看見他們的結局就歡喜； 無辜的人嗤笑他們，

The just will see and will rejoice, and the innocent will mock them.

20 說：那起來攻擊我們的果然被剪除， 其餘的都被火燒滅。

Has not their haughtiness been cut down, and has not fire devoured the remnants of them?

21 你要認識上帝，就得平安； 福氣也必臨到你。

So, repose yourself with him and be at peace, and, in this way, you will have the best fruits.

22 你當領受他口中的教訓， 將他的言語存在心裏。

Accept the law from his mouth, and place his words in your heart.

23 你若歸向全能者，從你帳棚中遠除不義， 就必得建立。

If you will return to the Almighty, you will be rebuilt, and you will put sinfulness far from your tabernacle.

24 要將你的珍寶丟在塵土裏， 將俄斐的黃金丟在溪河石頭之間；

He will give you stone in place of dirt, and torrents of gold in place of stone.

25 全能者就必為你的珍寶， 作你的寶銀。

And the Almighty will be against your enemies, and silver will be gathered together for you.

26 你就要以全能者為喜樂， 向上帝仰起臉來。

Then will you flock together in delight over the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God.

27 你要禱告他，他就聽你； 你也要還你的願。

You will plead with him, and he will listen to you, and you will pay your vows.

28 你定意要做何事，必然給你成就； 亮光也必照耀你的路。

You will decide on something, and it will come to you, and the light will shine in your ways.

29 人使你降卑，你仍可說：必得高升； 謙卑的人，上帝必然拯救。

For he who had been humbled, will be in glory; and he who will lower his eyes, will be the one saved.

30 人非無辜，上帝且要搭救他； 他因你手中清潔，必蒙拯救。

The innocent will be saved, and he will be saved with purity in his hands.