約伯記 21
1 約伯回答說：
And Job answered and said,
2 你們且聽一聽我的話! 這也算是你們給我的安慰。
Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
3 請讓我發言，我說完後，任你們笑罵。
Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!
4 我豈是抱怨人﹖我失了忍耐，難道沒有理由﹖
As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?
5 你們注意聽我，必要吃驚，且要用手堵住口。
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.
6 甚至我一回想，我就恐怖，全身戰慄。
Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 惡人為何享受高壽而勢力強大﹖
Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
8 他們在世時，子孫昌盛，親眼看見子子孫孫。
Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 他們的住宅平安，無所畏懼，天主的棍杖也不加在他們身上。
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 他們的公牛交尾，無不成功；母牛產子，決無流產。
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 他們使孩子跑出像羊群，子女跳躍如麋鹿。
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 他們伴著手鼓與豎琴歌唱，隨著笛聲歡呼。
They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 但他們曾向天主說：「離開我們! 我們不願知道你的道路。
And they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
15 全能者是誰，竟叫我們事奉他﹖我們祈求他有什麼好處﹖」
What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
16 看啊! 他們的幸福，豈不在他們掌握中﹖惡人的思想豈不離他很遠﹖
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!
17 惡人的燈有多少次熄滅過﹖災禍有多少次降在他們身上﹖天主何嘗因忿怒而消滅他們﹖
How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows [to them] in his anger?
18 使他們好像被風吹的碎湝﹖好像被暴風捲去的糠秕﹖
Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
19 難道天主要向他的兒子討罪債﹖其實應向他本人報復，叫他覺悟!
God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]:
20 叫他親眼看見自己的毀滅，親自飲下全能者的義怒之杯。
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.
21 他既逝去，他本人的歲月已絕，他的家庭對他還有什麼相干﹖
For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 天主既審判天上者，人豈能教給他什麼智識﹖
Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.
23 有人到死一無所缺，享盡了平安幸福。
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 他的腰部充滿脂肪，他的骨髓潤澤豐盈；
His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;
25 但有人卻至死心靈酸苦，一生毫無福樂；
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:
26 他們卻一同埋於塵土，為蛆蟲所掩蓋。
Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27 我確知你們的思想，以及對我所籌劃的陰謀。
Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 你們要問：「霸王的家在那裏﹖惡人住的帳幕在何處﹖」
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?
29 你們怎麼不問過路的人﹖難道你們不承認他們的證據﹖
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:
30 「惡人在毀滅之日不受害，在憤怒之日會得救。」
That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.
31 他的動作，誰敢當面指摘﹖他的行為，誰能報復﹖
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 他最後被抬入墳墓，且親自守護自己的墓地。
Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.
33 谷中的土壤，他感覺甘美；眾人都跟他而去，但在他前面的人，更不可勝數。
The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 你們為何說空話來安慰我﹖你們的答話顯然只是欺詐!
How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
