Job 35

1 Moreover Elihu continued, saying,

厄里烏又接著說：

2 “Do you think this is just when you say, 'My right before God'?

你說過：「我在天主前是正義的。」你想這話合理嗎﹖

3 For you ask, 'What use is it to me?' and, 'Would I be better off 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 answer you, both you and your friends.

我今答覆你，以及和你在一起的友人。

5 Look up at the sky, and see it; see the sky, which is higher than you.

請你仰視上天，且要靜觀，細看高於你的蒼天。

6 If you have sinned, what harm do you do to God? If your transgressions pile up high, what do you do to 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 you are righteous, what can you give to him? What will he receive from your 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 Your wickedness may hurt a man, as you are a man, and your righteousness might benefit another 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 Because of many acts of oppression, people cry out; they call for help from the arms of mighty men.

人因受暴虐過甚，必要哀號；因受強權的壓迫，必要呼籲。

10 But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

但是沒有人說：「那造成我們，使人夜間歡唱，

11 who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth, and who makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

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 out, but God gives no 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 God will certainly not hear a foolish cry; the Almighty will pay no attention to it.

他們空喊亂叫，天主決不俯聽，全能者決不垂視。

14 How much less will he answer you if you say that you do not see him, that your case is before him, and that you are waiting 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 Now you say that his anger does not punish, and he does not take even a litte notice of transgression.

你還說過：「他沒有發怒施罰，似乎不很理會罪過。」

16 So Job opens his mouth only to speak foolishness; he piles up words without knowledge.”

的確，約伯開口盡說空話；由於無知，說了許多妄言。