1以利戶又說:
2「各位智者,請聽我言;
明達之士,要側耳聽我的話。
3因為耳朵辨別話語,
正如舌頭品嚐食物。
4我們來鑒別何為正,
一起來認識何為善。
5約伯曾說,『我是清白的,
上帝卻奪去我的公道。
6我雖然有理,卻被認為是撒謊者;
我雖然無過,卻受到致命的創傷。』
7有誰像約伯?
他肆意嘲諷,
8與惡者為伍,
同壞人作伴。
9因為他說,『人取悅上帝毫無益處。』
10「所以明智的人啊,請聽我言,
上帝絕不會作惡,
全能者絕無不義。
11祂按人所行的對待人,
照人所做的報應人。
12上帝絕不會作惡,
全能者不會顛倒是非。
13誰曾派祂治理大地,
讓祂掌管整個世界呢?
14上帝若決定收回自己的靈和氣,
15所有生靈將一同滅亡,
世人也將歸回塵土。
16「你若明理,請聽我言,
側耳聽我說。
17憎惡正義的豈可掌權?
你要譴責公義的大能者嗎?
18祂可以稱君王為廢物,
稱權貴為惡徒。
19祂不偏袒王侯,
也不輕貧重富,
因為他們都是祂親手造的。
20他們夜間轉瞬死去,
百姓震顫,繼而消逝,
權貴也被剷除,非藉人手。
21上帝鑒察世人的道路,
觀看他們的腳步。
22沒有黑暗和陰影可供作惡者藏身。
23祂不必再三察驗,
把人召到面前審判。
24祂擊垮權貴無需審查,
另立他人取而代之。
25祂知道他們的行為,
祂使他們在夜間傾覆、滅亡。
26祂當眾擊打他們,
正如擊打惡人。
27因為他們離棄祂,
無視祂的正道,
28以致窮人的呼求傳到祂那裡,
祂也聽見了困苦者的呼求。
29但祂若保持緘默,誰能定祂有罪?
祂若掩起臉來,誰能看得見祂?
個人和國家都靠祂垂顧,
30以免不敬虔者做王,
禍國殃民。
31「有誰對上帝說,
『我受了管教,不會再犯罪;
32我不明白的事,求你指教我;
我若行了惡事,必不再行』?
33難道因為你拒絕接受,
上帝就要迎合你的要求嗎?
要做抉擇的是你,而非我,
請說說你的高見。
34明達的人和聽我發言的智者都會說,
35『約伯所言毫無知識,
他的話沒有智慧。』
36願約伯被試煉到底,
因為他的回答如惡人之言。
37他的叛逆使他罪上加罪,
他在我們中間拍手譏笑,
用許多話褻瀆上帝。」
1Furthermore Elihu answered and said, 2Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.34.3 mouth: Heb. palate 4Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. 5For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. 6Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.34.6 my wound: Heb. mine arrow 7What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? 8Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. 9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
10Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.34.10 men…: Heb. men of heart 11For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. 12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. 13Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?34.13 the whole: Heb. all of it? 14If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;34.14 man: Heb. him 15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
16If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. 17Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?34.17 govern: Heb. bind? 18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? 19How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. 20In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.34.20 the mighty…: Heb. they shall take away the mighty 21For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. 22There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 23For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.34.23 enter: Heb. go 24He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.34.24 number: Heb. searching out 25Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.34.25 destroyed: Heb. crushed 26He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;34.26 open…: Heb. place of beholders 27Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:34.27 him: Heb. after him 28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. 29When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: 30That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: 32That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. 33Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.34.33 according…: Heb. from with thee? 34Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.34.34 of…: Heb. of heart 35Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. 36My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.34.36 My…: or, My father, let Job be tried 37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.