约伯记 36
1 以利户又接着说：
Elihu continued speaking.
2 你再容我片时，我就指示你， 因我还有话为 神说。
“Be patient with me just a little while longer and let me explain. I still have something to say on God's behalf.
3 我要将所知道的从远处引来， 将公义归给造我的主。
I will share my extensive knowledge, and I will prove my Creator is in the right.
4 我的言语真不虚谎； 有知识全备的与你同在。
I assure you that what I'm saying are not lies, for I am a man whose knowledge is of the highest order.
5 神有大能，并不藐视人； 他的智慧甚广。
God is mighty, but doesn't despise anyone; he is powerful in strength and understanding.
6 他不保护恶人的性命， 却为困苦人伸冤。
He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the oppressed.
7 他时常看顾义人， 使他们和君王同坐宝座， 永远要被高举。
He always pays attention those who do right, and places them on thrones with kings, honoring them eternally.
8 他们若被锁链捆住， 被苦难的绳索缠住，
If they are bound in chains, tied down by ropes of suffering,
9 他就把他们的作为和过犯指示他们， 叫他们知道有骄傲的行动。
then he explains to them what they've done—their arrogant sins.
10 他也开通他们的耳朵得受教训， 吩咐他们离开罪孽转回。
He makes them pay attention and orders them to stop sinning.
11 他们若听从事奉他， 就必度日亨通，历年福乐；
If they listen and do what God says they will live out their lives in happiness.
12 若不听从， 就要被刀杀灭，无知无识而死。
But if they do not listen they will die a violent death, ignorant of God.
13 那心中不敬虔的人积蓄怒气； 神捆绑他们，他们竟不求救；
Those who reject God hold on to their bitterness. Even when he disciplines them they do not cry out to him for help.
14 必在青年时死亡， 与污秽人一样丧命。
They die in their youth; their lives end among the male temple prostitutes.
15 神借着困苦救拔困苦人， 趁他们受欺压开通他们的耳朵。
Through suffering God saves those who suffer; he gets their attention through their troubles.
16 神也必引你出离患难， 进入宽阔不狭窄之地； 摆在你席上的必满有肥甘。
God is trying to rescue you from the jaws of trouble to a place of freedom and safety, filling your table full of the very best food.
17 但你满口有恶人批评的言语； 判断和刑罚抓住你。
But you are preoccupied with the fate of the wicked; judgment and justice fill your mind.
18 不可容忿怒触动你，使你不服责罚； 也不可因赎价大就偏行。
But be careful that your anger doesn't seduce you into mockery; and don't let the size of the ‘bribe’ lead you into sin.
19 你的呼求，或是你一切的势力， 果有灵验，叫你不受患难吗？
Will your cry for help sustain you when troubles come?
20 不要切慕黑夜， 就是众民在本处被除灭的时候。
Do not long for the night when people are suddenly taken away.
21 你要谨慎，不可重看罪孽， 因你选择罪孽过于选择苦难。
Watch out that you don't turn to evil! For it's because of this that you are being tested through suffering.
22 神行事有高大的能力； 教训人的有谁像他呢？
Look how much power God has! What teacher is like him?
23 谁派定他的道路？ 谁能说：你所行的不义？
Who has instructed him what to do? Who can say to him ‘You have done wrong’?
24 你不可忘记称赞他所行的为大， 就是人所歌颂的。
Instead you should praise him for what he has done, as people have done in song.
25 他所行的，万人都看见； 世人也从远处观看。
Everyone has seen God's creation, though only from a distance.
26 神为大，我们不能全知； 他的年数不能测度。
See how great God is—more than we can understand! No one can count his years.
27 他吸取水点， 这水点从云雾中就变成雨；
He draws up the water and distils it into the dew and the rain.
28 云彩将雨落下，沛然降与世人。
The clouds pour down rain, falling plentifully on humankind.
29 谁能明白云彩如何铺张， 和 神行宫的雷声呢？
Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out, or how thunder roars from where he lives?
30 他将亮光普照在自己的四围； 他又遮覆海底。
See how he scatters lightning around him, and covers the depths of the sea in darkness.
31 他用这些审判众民， 且赐丰富的粮食。
By these actions he rules the people, he provides abundant food.
32 他以电光遮手， 命闪电击中敌人。
He holds lightning in his hands and commands where it should strike.
33 所发的雷声显明他的作为， 又向牲畜指明要起暴风。
Thunder declares his presence—even cattle know when a storm is coming.
