約伯記 12
1 約伯回答說：
And Job answered 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!
So then you [alone] are men, and wisdom shall die 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 also have a heart as well as you.
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。
For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.
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。
For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let not however any one trust that, being evil, he shall be [held] guiltless,
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。
even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition [made] of them.
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 ask now the beasts, if they may speak to you; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to you.
8 地上的爬蟲也會教訓你，海中的魚族也會給你說明。
Tell the earth, if it may speak to you: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to you.
9 牠們中有誰不知道：是天主的手創造了這一切﹖
Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?
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。
Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.
11 耳朵不是為明辨言語，口腔不是為辨嘗食物嗎﹖
For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.
12 白髮老人是有智慧的，年紀大者是有見識的；
In length of time is wisdom, and in long life 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 are wisdom and power, with him counsel and understanding.
14 他若拆毀，人不能再建；他若拘禁，人不得開釋。
If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open?
15 他若制水，水便乾涸；他若放水，水便沖毀大地。
If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.
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 power: he has knowledge and understanding.
17 他使謀士糊塗，使判官愚蠢；
He leads counsellors away captive, and maddens the judges of the earth.
18 他解除君王所繫的玉帶，將繩索捆在他們的腰間；
He seats kings upon thrones, and girds their loins with a girdle.
19 他使司祭赤足而行，推倒掌握大權者；
He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.
20 奪去忠貞者的辯才，剝去年老者的理智：
He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.
21 使貴人備受侮辱，使勇士的腰帶鬆弛；
He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.
22 使隱秘的事由暗處彰顯，使黑暗進入光明；
Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.
23 使邦國興起而又滅亡，使民族強大而又消散；
Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them [away].
24 剝去國君的理智，使他們漂泊於無路的荒野中，
Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, [saying],
25 在無光的黑暗中摸索，踉蹌猶如醉漢。
Let them grope [in] darkness, and [let there be] no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.
