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 favor 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 people further,
that they should come before him for judgment.
24Without inquiry 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，
正如舌頭品嘗食物。
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所有生命將一同滅亡，
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他們夜半猝然死去，
百姓震顫，繼而消逝，
權貴也被剷除，非藉人手。
21祂注目世人所行之道，
察看他們走的每一步。
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。」
