Elihu Continues
You Men Think You Are Wise
1 Elihu said:
2 You men think you are wise,
but just listen to me!
3 Think about my words,
as you would taste food.
4 Then we can decide the case
and give a just verdict.
5 Job claims he is innocent
and God is guilty
of mistreating him.
6 Job also argues that God
considers him a liar
and that he is suffering severely
in spite of his innocence.
7 But to tell the truth,
Job is shameless!
8 He spends his time with sinners,
9 because he has said,
“It doesn't pay to please God.”
If Any of You Are Smart
10 If any of you are smart,
you will listen and learn
that God All-Powerful
does what is right.
11 God always treats everyone
the way they deserve,
12 and he is never unfair.
13 From the very beginning,
God has been in control
of all the world.
14 If God took back the breath
that he breathed into us,
15 we humans would die
and return to the soil.
16 So be smart and listen!
17 The mighty God is the one
who brings about justice,
and you are condemning him.
18 Indeed, God is the one
who condemns unfair rulers.
19 And God created us all;
he has no favorites,
whether rich or poor.
20 Even powerful rulers die
in the darkness of night
when they least expect it,
just like the rest of us.
God Watches Everything We Do
21 God watches everything we do.
22 No evil person can hide
in the deepest darkness.
23 And so, God doesn't need
to set a time for judgment.
24 Without asking for advice,
God removes mighty leaders
and puts others in their place.
25 He knows what they are like,
and he wipes them out
in the middle of the night.
26 And while others look on,
he punishes them
because they were evil
27 and refused to obey him.
28 The persons they mistreated
had prayed for help,
until God answered
their prayers.
29 When God does nothing,
can any person or nation
find fault with him?
30 But still, he punishes rulers
who abuse their people.
31 Job, you should tell God
that you are guilty
and promise to do better.
32 Then ask him to point out
what you did wrong,
so you won't do it again.
33 Do you make the rules,
or does God?
You have to decide—
I can't do it for you;
now make up your mind.
34 Job, anyone with good sense
can easily see
35 that you are speaking nonsense
and lack good judgment.
36 So I pray for you to suffer
as much as possible
for talking like a sinner.
37 You have rebelled against God,
time after time,
and have even insulted us.
Ēlīhu par Dieva taisnīgumu
1 Un Ēlīhu runāja vēl:
2 “Klausieties, gudrie, manus vārdus,
zinātāji, sadzirdiet mani,
3 jo vārdus pārbauda auss,
tāpat kā aukslējas izbauda garšu.
4 Spriedīsim tiesu paši vien,
kopā lemsim, kas labs.
5 Jo Ījabs teica: es esmu taisns!
Sagrozījis Dievs manu tiesu,
6 kaut man taisnība, par meli sauc,
sāpīgi vaino, kaut es bez vainas! –
7 Kur vēl redzēts tāds kā Ījabs?
Zaimus kā ūdeni dzer,
8 ar ļaundariem pinas,
kopā iet ar negantniekiem
9 un saka: tas neko nedod,
ja cilvēks pēc Dieva kāro! –
10 Tad, prātnieki, uzklausiet mani:
tālu no Dieva negantība
un ļaunums no Visuvarenā!
11 Par darbiem viņš cilvēkam maksā,
pēc kā šis dzenas, to atrod.
12 Tik tiešām, Dievs nedara ļaunu,
un Visuvarenais neapvērš tiesu!
13 Kas viņam uzticēja zemi,
kas viņam nodeva debesloku?
14 Ja iedomātos viņš savā sirdī
atpakaļ paņemt garu un dvašu,
15 tūdaļ iznīktu visa radība
un cilvēks tiktu atpakaļ pīšļos.
16 Ja jums prāts, tad klausieties nu,
tad ausieties manos vārdos.
17 Kas pats vairās tiesas, nu grib citus siet!
Vai diženo Taisno tu grasies vainot?
18 Kas ķēniņam saka: bezgodis tāds! –
un augstmanim: tu, ļaundaris! –
19 Kurš gan dižkungu pusē nenostājas
un bagātos netur augstāk par nabagiem? –
visi tie veidoti viņa rokām!
20 Piepeši mirst, nakts vidū
meimurodami ļautiņi aiziet,
varenais nogrūsts – tak ne ar roku!
21 Jo viņa acis redz cilvēka ceļus,
viņš nomana visus tā soļus.
22 Nav tumsas, ne melnuma nav,
kur ļaundariem slēpties,
23 jo viņš nevienam vēl nav nolicis laiku,
kad pie Dieva jānāk uz tiesu!
24 Dižos viņš satriec pat nejautājis,
noliek citus to vietā,
25 jo viņš to darbus zina,
naktī tos sagrauj, tie sabirst,
26 kā ļaundarus tos šausta,
visiem redzot, –
27 tos, kuri pārstāja sekot viņam
un viņa ceļus neņēma vērā.
28 Tad sasniedza viņu bēduļu klaigas,
nabagu vaimanas viņš sadzirdēja.
29 Ja viņš klusēs – kas sūdzēs viņu,
ja slēps vaigu – kas viņu pamanīs?
Gan tautu, gan cilvēku viņš vēro,
30 lai nevalda bezgodis,
lai nesien tautu cilpās!
31 Vai tu sacīsi Dievam:
sodīts esmu, vairs tā nedarīšu,
32 ko pats neredzu, māci tu man –
ja ļaunu es darījis, tad vairs nedarīšu? –
33 Vai viņš samaksās, cik tev tīk,
vai teiks: lem tu, nevis es,
cik gribi, tik prasi!
34 Sirdī zinīgie pasacīs man
un gudrais, kas klausījies mani:
35 aplami runā Ījabs,
viņa vārdiem līdz gudrībai tālu!
36 Gribu, lai Ījabu tiesā līdz galam –
ko šis liecina par grēciniekiem,
37 ko vairo vainu ar jaunu grēku,
mūsu priekšā pat plaukstas sit,
runā un runā pret Dievu!”
