5
1助けを呼び求めても、だれも答えてくれない。
神々によりすがっても、助けてもらえない。
2怒り狂い、のたうち回って息絶えるだけだ。
3神に背く者は、しばらくは栄えても、
思いもよらない災いにみまわれる。
4彼らの子どもたちは、だれにもかばってもらえず、
簡単にだまされる。
5せっかく上げた収穫も人手に渡り、
その富は、ほかの人の渇きをいやす。
6罪の種をまいた者には、罰として不幸が襲う。
7火種から勢いよく炎が吹き上げるように、
人は罪と不幸に向かってまっしぐらに進むのだ。
8だから、あなたに忠告したい。
神に罪を告白しなさい。
9神は、目をみはるような奇跡を何度でも行うからだ。
10神は地に雨を降らせて田畑をうるおし、
11貧しい者と謙遜な者を富ませ、
苦しむ者を安全な場所へ連れて行く。
12神は、悪賢い者の計画をくつがえす。
13彼らは知恵をこらして計画を練り、
そのわなに自分でかかる。
14彼らは夜だけでなく、日中でも、
目の見えない者のように手探りで歩く。
15神は、このような横暴な連中から、
身寄りのない者や貧しい者を救う。
16こうして、貧しい者は希望を見いだし、
悪者の牙はへし折られる。
17神に誤りを正してもらえる人は、
なんと幸せなことか。
神の懲らしめをないがしろにしてはいけない。
自分で罪を犯し、招いた結果なのだから。
18神は傷つけても包帯を巻き、治してくださる。
19何度でも救い出してくださる。
だから、災いがあなたに寄りつく暇もない。
20あなたはききんの時には死から、
戦いの時には剣から守られる。
21人の中傷も苦にならず、将来の心配もなくなる。
22あなたは戦いもききんも心配する必要がなく、
野獣に襲われることもない。
23どう猛な野獣は、あなたと平和協定を結ぶからだ。
24家を留守にしても、何の心配もない。
倉庫には、だれも指一本ふれないからだ。
25あなたの息子たちは、なくてはならぬ人物となり、
子孫は草のように増え広がる。
26麦は、収穫の時までは
どんなことがあっても刈り取られない。
そのように、あなたも幸せな一生を送り、
長寿を全うする。
27このことがうそ偽りでないことを
私は経験から知ったのだ。
あなたのためを思えばこそ忠告するのだ。
私の助言を聞いてくれ。」
1Eliphaz continued,
“Call out if you want to, Job.
But who will answer you?
Which one of the holy angels will you turn to?
2Anger kills foolish people.
Jealousy destroys those who are childish.
3I saw that foolish people were having success.
But suddenly harm came to their homes.
4Their children aren’t safe at all.
They lose their case in court.
No one speaks up for them.
5Hungry people eat up the crops of the foolish.
They even take the food that grows among thorns.
Thirsty people long for the wealth of the foolish.
6Hard times don’t just grow out of the soil.
Trouble doesn’t jump out of the ground.
7People are born to have trouble.
And that’s just as sure as sparks fly up.
8“If I were you, I’d make my appeal to God.
I’d bring my case to be judged by him.
9He does wonderful things that can’t be understood.
He does miracles that can’t even be counted.
10He sends rain on the earth.
He sends water on the countryside.
11He lifts up people who are lowly in spirit.
He lifts up those who are sad.
He keeps them safe.
12He stops the evil plans of those who are clever.
The work of their hands doesn’t succeed.
13Some people think they are so wise.
But God catches them in their own tricks.
He sweeps away the evil plans of sinful people.
14Darkness covers them in the daytime.
At noon they feel their way around as if it were night.
15God saves needy people from the cutting words of their enemies.
He saves them from their power.
16So poor people have hope.
And God shuts the mouths of those who don’t treat others fairly.
17“Blessed is the person God corrects.
So don’t hate the Mighty One’s training.
18He wounds. But he also bandages up those he wounds.
He harms. But his hands also heal those he harms.
19From six troubles he will save you.
Even if you are in trouble seven times, no harm will come to you.
20When there isn’t enough food, God will keep you from dying.
When you go into battle, he won’t let a sword strike you down.
21He will keep you safe from words that can hurt you.
You won’t need to be afraid
when everything is being destroyed.
22You will laugh when things are being destroyed.
You will enjoy life even when there isn’t enough food.
You won’t be afraid of wild animals.
23You will make a covenant with the stones in the fields.
They won’t keep your crops from growing.
Even wild animals will be at peace with you.
24You will know that the tent you live in is secure.
You will check out your property.
You will see that nothing is missing.
25You can be sure you will have a lot of children.
They will be as many as the blades of grass on the earth.
26You will go down to the grave
while you are still very strong.
You will be like a crop that is gathered at the right time.
27“We have carefully studied all these things.
And they are true.
So pay attention to them.
Apply them to yourself.”
