約伯記 36

1 以利戶又接着說：

Elihu also proceeded, and said,

2 你再容我片時，我就指示你， 因我還有話為上帝說。

Allow me a little, and I will show thee. For I have yet somewhat to say on God's behalf.

3 我要將所知道的從遠處引來， 將公義歸給造我的主。

I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my maker.

4 我的言語真不虛謊； 有知識全備的與你同在。

(For truly my words are not false.) He who is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

5 上帝有大能，並不藐視人； 他的智慧甚廣。

Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6 他不保護惡人的性命， 卻為困苦人伸冤。

He does not preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.

7 他時常看顧義人， 使他們和君王同坐寶座， 永遠要被高舉。

He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but he sets them forever with kings upon the throne, and they are exalted.

8 他們若被鎖鍊捆住， 被苦難的繩索纏住，

And if they be bound in fetters, and be taken in the cords of afflictions,

9 他就把他們的作為和過犯指示他們， 叫他們知道有驕傲的行動。

then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

10 他也開通他們的耳朵得受教訓， 吩咐他們離開罪孽轉回。

He also opens their ear to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.

11 他們若聽從事奉他， 就必度日亨通，歷年福樂；

If they hearken and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

12 若不聽從， 就要被刀殺滅，無知無識而死。

But if they do not hearken, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

13 那心中不敬虔的人積蓄怒氣； 上帝捆綁他們，他們竟不求救；

But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They do not cry for help when he binds them.

14 必在青年時死亡， 與污穢人一樣喪命。

They die in youth, and their life perishes among the unclean.

15 上帝藉着困苦救拔困苦人， 趁他們受欺壓開通他們的耳朵。

He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.

16 上帝也必引你出離患難， 進入寬闊不狹窄之地； 擺在你席上的必滿有肥甘。

Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress into a broad place, where there is no confinement, and that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.

17 但你滿口有惡人批評的言語； 判斷和刑罰抓住你。

But thou have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold,

18 不可容忿怒觸動你，使你不服責罰； 也不可因贖價大就偏行。

and there shall be wrath upon the impious because of the ungodliness of bribes which the unrighteous receive.

19 你的呼求，或是你一切的勢力， 果有靈驗，叫你不受患難嗎？

Will thy cry not avail in distress, or all the forces of strength?

20 不要切慕黑夜， 就是眾民在本處被除滅的時候。

Do not desire the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.

21 你要謹慎，不可重看罪孽， 因你選擇罪孽過於選擇苦難。

Take heed. Do not turn to iniquity, for thou have fixed on this because of affliction.

22 上帝行事有高大的能力； 教訓人的有誰像他呢？

Behold, God does loftily in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

23 誰派定他的道路？ 誰能說：你所行的不義？

Who has enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou have wrought unrighteousness?

24 你不可忘記稱讚他所行的為大， 就是人所歌頌的。

Remember that thou magnify his work, of which men have sung.

25 他所行的，萬人都看見； 世人也從遠處觀看。

All men have looked on it. Man beholds it afar off.

26 上帝為大，我們不能全知； 他的年數不能測度。

Behold, God is great, and we do not know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

27 他吸取水點， 這水點從雲霧中就變成雨；

For he draws up the drops of water, which distil in rain from his vapor,

28 雲彩將雨落下，沛然降與世人。

which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.

29 誰能明白雲彩如何鋪張， 和上帝行宮的雷聲呢？

Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?

30 他將亮光普照在自己的四圍； 他又遮覆海底。

Behold, he spreads his light around him, and he covers the bottom of the sea.

31 他用這些審判眾民， 且賜豐富的糧食。

For by these he judges the peoples. He gives food in abundance.

32 他以電光遮手， 命閃電擊中敵人。

He covers his hands with the lightning, and gives it a command that it strike the mark.

33 所發的雷聲顯明他的作為， 又向牲畜指明要起暴風。

The noise of it tells concerning him. The cattle also concerning the storm that comes up.