約伯記 15
1 特曼人厄里法次又發言說：
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 智者豈能以虛言作答﹖豈能以東風果腹﹖
“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
3 豈能以無益的廢話，無濟於事的言詞來辯護﹖
Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?
4 不但如此，而且你還廢除了敬畏天主之情，斷絕了在他面前的默禱。
But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.
5 其實，是你的罪惡教導你說話，叫你的口舌詭辯。
For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.
6 定你罪的，是你的口而不是我，是你的口唇作證控告你。
Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you.
7 你豈是第一個出生的人﹖在山嶽未有之前，你豈已誕生﹖
Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
8 難道你聽見了天主的秘旨，把持著智慧﹖
Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?
9 有什麼事，只有你知，而我們不知；只有你明瞭，而我們不明瞭﹖
What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?
10 我們之中也有白頭老人，年紀比你父親還大。
Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father.
11 天主的安慰，和向你說的溫和的話，你以為還太少嗎﹖
Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?
12 你為何讓你的感情控制著你﹖你的眼為何冒火，
Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
13 竟向天主發怒，開口說出這樣的話﹖
as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?
14 人算什麼而敢自稱潔淨，婦女所生的敢自稱正直﹖
What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
15 他連自己的聖者，還不信賴；在他眼中，連蒼天也不純潔，
If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,
16 何況一個墮落可憎，飲惡如水的人。
how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?
17 我要告訴你，你且聽我說；我要說明我的經驗，
Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,
18 即賢哲所傳授，和祖先未曾隱瞞的事：──
what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,
19 這地方原只賜給了他們，尚無一個外方人從他們中間經過。──
to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.
20 惡人一生飽受苦惱，壽數已給暴君限定；
A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
21 恐怖之聲常在他耳中，平靜時匪徒也來侵擾。
Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.
22 他不相信還能脫離黑暗，只等待遭受刀劍之害，
He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.
23 注定作為鷹鳥的食物，自知大難業已臨頭。
He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
24 黑暗的日子使他恐怖，困苦艱難跟隨著他，好像準備廝殺的君王。
Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack.
25 因為他曾伸手反抗過天主，向全能者傲慢逞強過；
For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,
26 以伸直的頸項，以堅厚的盾背攻擊過天主。
rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield.
27 他的臉蓋滿了脂油，他的腰積滿了肥肉。
Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh,
28 他住在荒涼的城內，住在無人居留，行將化為廢墟的屋中。
he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.
29 他不能富有，所有的財富也不能久存，也決不能向地下生根。
He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land.
30 他脫離不了黑暗，火燄要灼乾他的嫩芽，暴風要吹去他的花朵。
He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.
31 別依恃枝椏已長大，應知這都是空虛；
Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.
32 未到時日，已經凋謝，枝葉再不發綠。
It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.
33 有如葡萄未熟即被打下，橄欖開花即被搖落，
He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.
34 因為惡人的家室必要絕嗣，火要燒盡受賄者的帳幕。
For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.
35 他們所懷的是邪惡，所生的是罪孽；心胸懷念的，無非是欺詐。
They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”
