約伯記 12
1 約伯回答說：
And Job made answer and said,
2 的確，只有你們是有知識的子民；那麼，你們一死，智慧也與你們一同喪亡!
No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.
3 其實，我和你們有同樣的心理，我並不亞於你們! 誰不知道這些事﹖
But I have a mind as well as you; I am equal to you: yes, who has not knowledge of such things as these?
4 我這呼籲天主而蒙應允的人，卻被他的友人所嘲笑，無辜的義人卻成了笑柄。
It seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!
5 幸運的人心想：遭難的人應受蔑視，失足的人應再予以打擊。
In the thought of him who is in comfort there is no respect for one who is in trouble; such is the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6 但是，強盜的帳幕竟能安全，觸怒天主的人，以勢力為神的人卻享平安。
There is wealth in the tents of those who make destruction, and those by whom God is moved to wrath are safe; even those whose god is their strength.
7 請你詢問走獸，牠們也會開導你；詢問天上的飛鳥，牠們也會告訴你；
But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them; or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you;
8 地上的爬蟲也會教訓你，海中的魚族也會給你說明。
Or to the things which go flat on the earth, and they will give you wisdom; and the fishes of the sea will give you news of it.
9 牠們中有誰不知道：是天主的手創造了這一切﹖
Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 因為一切活物的生魂，一切血肉之人的靈魂，都握在他手中。
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh of man.
11 耳朵不是為明辨言語，口腔不是為辨嘗食物嗎﹖
Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?
12 白髮老人是有智慧的，年紀大者是有見識的；
Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.
13 但智慧和能力同在天主內，智慧與見識是天主所有。
With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.
14 他若拆毀，人不能再建；他若拘禁，人不得開釋。
Truly, there is no building up of what is pulled down by him; when a man is shut up by him, no one may let him loose.
15 他若制水，水便乾涸；他若放水，水便沖毀大地。
Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.
16 力量與才能，為他所有；受騙者與騙人者，都屬於他。
With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;
17 他使謀士糊塗，使判官愚蠢；
He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;
18 他解除君王所繫的玉帶，將繩索捆在他們的腰間；
He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;
19 他使司祭赤足而行，推倒掌握大權者；
He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;
20 奪去忠貞者的辯才，剝去年老者的理智：
He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;
21 使貴人備受侮辱，使勇士的腰帶鬆弛；
He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;
22 使隱秘的事由暗處彰顯，使黑暗進入光明；
Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;
23 使邦國興起而又滅亡，使民族強大而又消散；
Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.
24 剝去國君的理智，使他們漂泊於無路的荒野中，
He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.
25 在無光的黑暗中摸索，踉蹌猶如醉漢。
They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.
