約伯記34:1-37

 

34:1 以利戶又說：
34:2 你們智慧人要聽我的話；有知識的人要留心聽我說。
34:3 因為耳朵試驗話語，好像上膛嘗食物。
34:4 我們當選擇何為是，彼此知道何為善。
34:5 約伯曾說：我是公義，上帝奪去我的理；
34:6 我雖有理，還算為說謊言的；我雖無過，受的傷還不能醫治。
34:7 誰像約伯，喝譏誚如同喝水呢？
34:8 他與作孽的結伴，和惡人同行。
34:9 他說：人以上帝為樂，總是無益。
34:10 所以，你們明理的人要聽我的話。上帝斷不致行惡；全能者斷不致作孽。
34:11 他必按人所做的報應人，使各人照所行的得報。
34:12 上帝必不作惡；全能者也不偏離公平。
34:13 誰派他治理地，安定全世界呢？
34:14 他若專心為己，將靈和氣收歸自己，
34:15 凡有血氣的就必一同死亡；世人必仍歸塵土。
34:16 你若明理，就當聽我的話，留心聽我言語的聲音。
34:17 難道恨惡公平的可以掌權嗎？那有公義的、有大能的，豈可定他有罪嗎？
34:18 他對君王說：你是鄙陋的；對貴臣說：你是邪惡的。
34:19 他待王子不徇情面，也不看重富足的過於貧窮的，因為都是他手所造。
34:20 在轉眼之間，半夜之中，他們就死亡。百姓被震動而去世；有權力的被奪去非借人手。
34:21 上帝注目觀看人的道路，看明人的腳步。
34:22 沒有黑暗、陰翳能給作孽的藏身。
34:23 上帝審判人，不必使人到他面前再三鑒察。
34:24 他用難測之法打破有能力的人，設立別人代替他們。
34:25 他原知道他們的行為，使他們在夜間傾倒滅亡。
34:26 他在眾人眼前擊打他們，如同擊打惡人一樣。
34:27 因為他們偏行不跟從他，也不留心他的道，
34:28 甚至使貧窮人的哀聲達到他那裡；他也聽了困苦人的哀聲。
34:29 他使人安靜，誰能擾亂（或譯：定罪）呢？他掩面，誰能見他呢？無論待一國或一人都是如此─
34:30 使不虔敬的人不得作王，免得有人牢籠百姓。
34:31 有誰對上帝說：我受了責罰，不再犯罪；
34:32 我所看不明的，求你指教我；我若作了孽，必不再作？
34:33 他施行報應，豈要隨你的心願、叫你推辭不受嗎？選定的是你，不是我。你所知道的只管說吧！
34:34 明理的人和聽我話的智慧人必對我說：
34:35 約伯說話沒有知識，言語中毫無智慧。
34:36 願約伯被試驗到底，因他回答像惡人一樣。
34:37 他在罪上又加悖逆；在我們中間拍手，用許多言語輕慢上帝。

 

Then Elihu said:

² “Hear my words, you wise men;
    listen to me, you men of learning.
³ For the ear tests words
    as the tongue tastes food.
⁴ Let 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.
⁶ Although I am right,
    I am considered a liar;
although I am guiltless,
    his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’
⁷ Is there anyone like Job,
    who drinks scorn like water?
⁸ He keeps company with evildoers;
    he associates with the wicked.
⁹ For 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.
¹¹ He repays everyone for what they have done;
    he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
¹² It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
    that the Almighty would pervert justice.
¹³ Who appointed him over the earth?
    Who put him in charge of the whole world?
¹⁴ If it were his intention
    and he withdrew his spirit^[a] and breath,
¹⁵ all humanity would perish together
    and mankind would return to the dust.

¹⁶ “If you have understanding, hear this;
    listen to what I say.
¹⁷ Can someone who hates justice govern?
    Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
¹⁸ Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
    and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
¹⁹ who shows no partiality to princes
    and does not favor the rich over the poor,
    for they are all the work of his hands?
²⁰ They 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.
²² There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness,
    where evildoers can hide.
²³ God has no need to examine people further,
    that they should come before him for judgment.
²⁴ Without inquiry he shatters the mighty
    and sets up others in their place.
²⁵ Because he takes note of their deeds,
    he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
²⁶ He punishes them for their wickedness
    where everyone can see them,
²⁷ because they turned from following him
    and had no regard for any of his ways.
²⁸ They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
    so that he heard the cry of the needy.
²⁹ But 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,
³⁰     to 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.
³² Teach me what I cannot see;
    if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’
³³ Should 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.’
³⁶ Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
    for answering like a wicked man!
³⁷ To his sin he adds rebellion;
    scornfully he claps his hands among us
    and multiplies his words against God.”

 

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    以利戶是站在上帝不會犯錯的立場說話，也因為這樣，約伯沒有資格說自己是義人，他不應該說上帝不為他主持公道，因為他本身就是與公道的上帝相對抗了，還有甚麼公道和義人的資格呢？

 

    也因為這樣，他宣告：「誰像約伯，喝譏誚如同喝水呢？」「約伯說話沒有知識，言語中毫無智慧。」

 

    這些聽來雖然是刺耳，卻是約伯真實的景況，也因此以利戶說：「願約伯被試驗到底，因他回答像惡人一樣。他在罪上又加悖逆；在我們中間拍手，用許多言語輕慢上帝。」

 

    以利戶和約伯的三個朋友最大的差別，是這三個朋友本是要安慰約伯，卻是自以為義的方式來和約伯對話，以致無法說到約伯真正的問題，所以一點幫助全無！然而，以利戶是以上帝的義是絕對的立場，來指責約伯，讓約伯知罪，才可以悔改歸向上帝，不在與上帝對抗而自以為義！

 

    人無法從上帝得著幫助和拯救，也就是在於人的自義為義，認為別人的不義，認為上帝不公平！若是承認上帝是公平、正義，就會順服上帝，存忍耐的心等候上帝的拯救，這樣人才有辦法蒙上帝拯救，脫離苦難的一天！因為，上帝不會恆久讓我們受苦的！

 

    承認上帝是公平、我們的不義，才能倚靠基督所完成的救贖大功，聲明才能享受救贖而來的喜樂滿溢！因為耶穌基督是答案，是上帝拯救的管道，也為靠耶穌基督才能享受上帝兒女的權柄！