Job's Reply to Zophar
If You Want To Offer Comfort
1 Job said:
2 If you want to offer comfort,
then listen to me.
3 And when I have finished,
you can start your insults
all over again.
4 My complaint is against God;
that's why I am impatient.
5 Just looking at me is enough
to make you sick,
6 and the very thought of myself
fills me with disgust.
7 Why do evil people live so long
and gain such power?
8 Why are they allowed to see
their children grow up?
9 They have no worries at home,
and God never punishes them.
10 Their cattle have lots of calves
without ever losing one;
11 their children play and dance
safely by themselves.
12 These people sing and celebrate
to the sound of tambourines,
small harps, and flutes,
13 and they are successful,
without a worry,
until the day they die.
Leave Us Alone!
14 Those who are evil say
to God All-Powerful,
“Leave us alone! Don't bother us
with your teachings.
15 What do we gain from praying
and worshiping you?
16 We succeeded all on our own.”
And so, I keep away from them
and their evil schemes.
17 How often does God become angry
and send disaster and darkness
to punish sinners?
18 How often does he strike them
like a windstorm
that scatters straw?
19 You say, “God will punish
those sinners' children
in place of those sinners.”
But I say, “Let him punish
those sinners themselves
until they really feel it.
20 Let God All-Powerful force them
to drink their own destruction
from the cup of his anger.
21 Because after they are dead,
they won't care what happens
to their children.”
Who Can Tell God What To Do?
22 Who can tell God what to do?
He judges powerful rulers.
* 23 Some of us die prosperous,
24 enjoying good health,
25 while others die in poverty,
having known only pain.
26 But we all end up dead,
beneath a blanket of worms.
27 My friends, I know that you
are plotting against me.
28 You ask, “Where is the home
of that important person
who does so much evil?”
29 Everyone, near and far, agrees
30 that those who do wrong
never suffer disaster,
when God becomes angry.
31 No one points out their sin
or punishes them.
32 Then at their funerals,
they are highly praised;
33 the earth welcomes them home,
while crowds mourn.
34 But empty, meaningless words
are the comfort you offer me.
Ījabs: bezdievis bieži iziet bez soda
1 Ījabs atbildēja, sacīdams:
2 “Klausīt klausieties manus vārdus –
tad būsiet mani mierinājuši!
3 Cietieties, kamēr runāju, –
kad būšu runājis, tad varat smiet!
4 Vai tad pret cilvēku sūdzību ceļu?
Kā lai neizsīkst mana pacietība?
5 Uzlūkojiet mani un trūkstieties,
lieciet sev roku uz mutes!
6 Iedomājos un tūliņ sabīstos,
manu miesu drebuļi sagrābj:
7 kādēļ ļaundari dzīvo,
sasniedz vecumu vareni spēkos?
8 To dzimta stipra ap viņiem,
viņu atvases tiem acu priekšā,
9 to nami pasargāti no briesmām,
pār tiem neceļas Dieva rīkste,
10 tiem bullis aplec – un neviļas,
tiem tele apvedas – un neizmetas!
11 Tie savus mazuļus gana kā jērus,
un viņu bērni lēkā,
12 tie ņem bungas un kokles
un līksmo, kad stabule spēlē,
13 tie labi aizvada dienas,
tie viegli kapā aiziet,
14 Dievam tie saka: atkāpies no mums,
mēs tavus ceļus negribam zināt!
15 Kas ir Visuvarenais, ka mēs tam kalpotu,
kāds labums mums, ka mēs to piesauktu?
16 Vai tad viņu labums nav viņu rokā? –
Lai man ļaundaru padoms tāls!
17 Vai gadās, ka ļaundaru gaismekļi apdziest?
Vai nāk pār tiem posts?
Vai viņš dusmās piešķir tiem mokas,
18 ka tie taptu kā salmi vējā,
kā pelavas, ko viesulis dzen?
19 Vai Dievs viņu dēliem taupa sodību?
Lai atmaksā pašam – ka zin!
20 Lai viņa acis nestundu pieredz,
lai Visuvarenā naidu viņš atdzeras –
21 kas viņam vairs gar savu namu,
kad mēnešu skaits jau aprāvies?
22 Vai Dievam kāds mācīs saprašanu?
Viņš pašus augstākos tiesā.
23 Viens nomirst pilns spēka
itin drošs un rimts,
24 viņa sāni taukuma klāti,
smadzenes kaulos atveldzētas.
25 Bet cits mirst ar rūgtu sirdi,
nebaudījis laba.
26 Blakus tie pīšļos gulēs,
un tārpi tos klās!
27 Saprotu gan jūsu domas,
jūsu viltu, kad uzbrūkat man!
28 Jūs sakāt: kur augstmaņa nams?
Kur telts, kurā ļaundari mita?
29 Vai ceļiniekiem neesat jautājuši,
vai viņu liecībām neesat ticējuši –
30 ka posta diena ļaundari saudzē
un dusmu dienā tas iziet sveikā?
31 Kas tam pārmetīs viņa gaitas?
Viņa nodarīto kas atmaksās?
32 Aizvada viņu uz kapiem –
pie kapa tam sardzi liek.
33 Tīksma tam ielejas smilts!
Pakaļ tam visi cilvēki nāk,
priekšgājējiem nav skaita!
34 Ko mierināt mani velti –
jūsu atbildēm nevar ticēt.”