約伯記 12
1 約伯回答說：
Then Job, answering, 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!
Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will wisdom 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﹖
And I have a heart just as you also do, and I am not inferior to you. For who is ignorant of these things, which you know?
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。
He who is mocked by his friends as I am, will call upon God, and he will listen to him because it is the sincerity of the just that is being mocked.
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。
The lamp that is despised in the thoughts of the rich is ready for the appointed time.
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。
The tabernacles of robbers are numerous, and they provoke God boldly; whereas, it is he who has given all things into their hands.
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；
In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.
8 地上的爬蟲也會教訓你，海中的魚族也會給你說明。
Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.
9 牠們中有誰不知道：是天主的手創造了這一切﹖
Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord has made all these things?
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 his hand is the soul of all the living and the spirit of all the flesh of mankind.
11 耳朵不是為明辨言語，口腔不是為辨嘗食物嗎﹖
Does not the ear perceive words, and the palate, when eating, perceive flavor?
12 白髮老人是有智慧的，年紀大者是有見識的；
In old age is wisdom, and in length of days is prudence.
13 但智慧和能力同在天主內，智慧與見識是天主所有。
With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.
14 他若拆毀，人不能再建；他若拘禁，人不得開釋。
If he tears down, there is no one who can build up; if he encloses a man, there is no one who can open.
15 他若制水，水便乾涸；他若放水，水便沖毀大地。
If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.
16 力量與才能，為他所有；受騙者與騙人者，都屬於他。
With him is strength and wisdom; he knows both the deceiver and he who is deceived.
17 他使謀士糊塗，使判官愚蠢；
He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.
18 他解除君王所繫的玉帶，將繩索捆在他們的腰間；
He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.
19 他使司祭赤足而行，推倒掌握大權者；
He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,
20 奪去忠貞者的辯才，剝去年老者的理智：
altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.
21 使貴人備受侮辱，使勇士的腰帶鬆弛；
He pours disdain upon the leaders, relieving those who had been oppressed.
22 使隱秘的事由暗處彰顯，使黑暗進入光明；
He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.
23 使邦國興起而又滅亡，使民族強大而又消散；
He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.
24 剝去國君的理智，使他們漂泊於無路的荒野中，
He transforms the heart of the leaders of the people on earth, and misleads those who in vain advance upon the inviolable.
25 在無光的黑暗中摸索，踉蹌猶如醉漢。
They will grope as in the darkness, not the light, and he will make them stagger like drunkards.
