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.”
*************
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!