< Job 35 >
1 Moreover Elihu answered and said:
厄里烏又接著說:
2 Thinkest thou this to be thy right, or sayest thou: 'I am righteousness before God',
你說過:「我在天主前是正義的。」你想這話合理嗎﹖
3 That thou inquirest: 'What advantage will it be unto Thee?' And: 'What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'
你還說過:「這與你何干﹖我若犯罪,我對你做了什麼﹖」
4 I will give thee answer, and thy companions with thee.
我今答覆你,以及和你在一起的友人。
5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the skies, which are higher than thou.
請你仰視上天,且要靜觀,細看高於你的蒼天。
6 If thou hast sinned, what doest thou against Him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto Him?
你若犯罪,為他有什麼害處﹖你若作惡多端,又能加害他什麼﹖
7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou Him? Or what receiveth He of thy hand?
如果你為人正義,為他又有何益﹖或者他由你手中獲得什麼﹖
8 Thy wickedness concerneth a man as thou art; and thy righteousness a son of man.
你的惡行只能加害與你類似的人,你的正義也只能有益於世人。
9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; they cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.
人因受暴虐過甚,必要哀號;因受強權的壓迫,必要呼籲。
10 But none saith: 'Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night;
但是沒有人說:「那造成我們,使人夜間歡唱,
11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?'
使我們比地上的走獸更聰明,使我們比天上的飛鳥更有智慧的天主在那裏﹖」
12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.
他們雖呼喊,天主卻不答應,這是因為惡人傲慢的原故。
13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
他們空喊亂叫,天主決不俯聽,全能者決不垂視。
14 Yea, when thou sayest thou canst not see Him — the cause is before Him; therefore wait thou for Him.
何況你說過:「你看不見他;但你的案件已放在他面前,你應等待他!」
15 And now, is it for nought that He punished in His anger? And hath He not full knowledge of arrogance?
你還說過:「他沒有發怒施罰,似乎不很理會罪過。」
16 But Job doth open his mouth in vanity; he multiplieth words without knowledge.
的確,約伯開口盡說空話;由於無知,說了許多妄言。