1Then Elihu said:
2‘Hear my words, you wise men;
listen to me, you men of learning.
3For the ear tests words
as the tongue tastes food.
4Let us discern for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.
5‘Job says, “I am innocent,
but God denies me justice.
6Although I am right,
I am considered a liar;
although I am guiltless,
his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.”
7Is there anyone like Job,
who drinks scorn like water?
8He keeps company with evildoers;
he associates with the wicked.
9For he says, “There is no profit
in trying to please God.”
10‘So listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do evil,
from the Almighty to do wrong.
11He repays everyone for what they have done;
he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
12It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
that the Almighty would pervert justice.
13Who appointed him over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the whole world?
14If it were his intention
and he withdrew his spirit34:14 Or Spirit and breath,
15all humanity would perish together
and mankind would return to the dust.
16‘If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.
17Can someone who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
18Is he not the One who says to kings, “You are worthless,”
and to nobles, “You are wicked,”
19who shows no partiality to princes
and does not favour the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?
20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;
the people are shaken and they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.
21‘His eyes are on the ways of mortals;
he sees their every step.
22There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness,
where evildoers can hide.
23God has no need to examine men further,
that they should come before him for judgment.
24Without enquiry he shatters the mighty
and sets up others in their place.
25Because he takes note of their deeds,
he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26He punishes them for their wickedness
where everyone can see them,
27because they turned from following him
and had no regard for any of his ways.
28They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
so that he heard the cry of the needy.
29But if he remains silent, who can condemn him?
If he hides his face, who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,
30to keep the godless from ruling,
from laying snares for the people.
31‘Suppose someone says to God,
“I am guilty but will offend no more.
32Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.”
33Should God then reward you on your terms,
when you refuse to repent?
You must decide, not I;
so tell me what you know.
34‘Men of understanding declare,
wise men who hear me say to me,
35“Job speaks without knowledge;
his words lack insight.”
36Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man!
37To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.’
1以利户又说：
2“各位智者，请听我言；
明达之士，要侧耳听我的话。
3因为耳朵辨别话语，
正如舌头品尝食物。
4我们来鉴别何为正，
一起来认识何为善。
5约伯曾说，‘我是清白的，
上帝却夺去我的公道。
6我虽然有理，却被认为是撒谎者；
我虽然无过，却受到致命的创伤。’
7有谁像约伯？
他肆意嘲讽，
8与恶者为伍，
同坏人作伴。
9因为他说，‘人取悦上帝毫无益处。’
10“所以明智的人啊，请听我言，
上帝绝不会作恶，
全能者绝无不义。
11祂按人所行的对待人，
照人所做的报应人。
12上帝绝不会作恶，
全能者不会颠倒是非。
13谁曾派祂治理大地，
让祂掌管整个世界呢？
14上帝若决定收回自己的灵和气，
15所有生灵将一同灭亡，
世人也将归回尘土。
16“你若明理，请听我言，
侧耳听我说。
17憎恶正义的岂可掌权？
你要谴责公义的大能者吗？
18祂可以称君王为废物，
称权贵为恶徒。
19祂不偏袒王侯，
也不轻贫重富，
因为他们都是祂亲手造的。
20他们夜间转瞬死去，
百姓震颤，继而消逝，
权贵也被铲除，非借人手。
21上帝鉴察世人的道路，
观看他们的脚步。
22没有黑暗和阴影可供作恶者藏身。
23祂不必再三察验，
把人召到面前审判。
24祂击垮权贵无需审查，
另立他人取而代之。
25祂知道他们的行为，
祂使他们在夜间倾覆、灭亡。
26祂当众击打他们，
正如击打恶人。
27因为他们离弃祂，
无视祂的正道，
28以致穷人的呼求传到祂那里，
祂也听见了困苦者的呼求。
29但祂若保持缄默，谁能定祂有罪？
祂若掩起脸来，谁能看得见祂？
个人和国家都靠祂垂顾，
30以免不敬虔者做王，
祸国殃民。
31“有谁对上帝说，
‘我受了管教，不会再犯罪；
32我不明白的事，求你指教我；
我若行了恶事，必不再行’？
33难道因为你拒绝接受，
上帝就要迎合你的要求吗？
要做抉择的是你，而非我，
请说说你的高见。
34明达的人和听我发言的智者都会说，
35‘约伯所言毫无知识，
他的话没有智慧。’
36愿约伯被试炼到底，
因为他的回答如恶人之言。
37他的叛逆使他罪上加罪，
他在我们中间拍手讥笑，
用许多话亵渎上帝。”
