約伯記 21
1 約伯回答說：
But 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 diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3 請讓我發言，我說完後，任你們笑罵。
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that 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 man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
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 your hand on your mouth.
6 甚至我一回想，我就恐怖，全身戰慄。
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
7 惡人為何享受高壽而勢力強大﹖
Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, are 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 in their sight with them, 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 on them.
10 他們的公牛交尾，無不成功；母牛產子，決無流產。
Their bull engenders, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts 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 take the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. (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。
Therefore they say to God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your 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 profit should we have, if we pray to 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﹖
See, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is 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 oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft comes their destruction on them! God distributes sorrows 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﹖
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries 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 lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards 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 wrath 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 has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the middle?
22 天主既審判天上者，人豈能教給他什麼智識﹖
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.
23 有人到死一無所缺，享盡了平安幸福。
One dies 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 breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 但有人卻至死心靈酸苦，一生毫無福樂；
And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
26 他們卻一同埋於塵土，為蛆蟲所掩蓋。
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27 我確知你們的思想，以及對我所籌劃的陰謀。
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which you 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 you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places 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 you not asked them that go by the way? and do you not know 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 to the day of destruction? they shall be brought 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 has done?
32 他最後被抬入墳墓，且親自守護自己的墓地。
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in 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 shall be sweet to him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are 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 you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
