約伯記 23

1 約伯回答說：

Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

2 直到今天，我還是痛苦的哀訴，他沉重的手掌，使我不得不呻吟。

Though my talke be this day in bitternes, and my plague greater then my groning,

3 惟願我知道怎樣能尋到天主，能達到他的寶座前，

Would God yet I knew how to finde him, I would enter vnto his place.

4 好將我的案情向他陳訴，因為我口中滿了證詞!

I would pleade the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 唯願我知道他答覆我的話，明瞭他向我說什麼!

I would knowe the wordes, that he would answere me, and would vnderstand what he would say vnto me.

6 他豈能靠強力同我爭辯﹖決不，他必留神聽我。

Would he plead against me with his great power? No, but he would put strength in me.

7 如此，他會分辨出同他爭論的是個正直人，也許我可永久不再受裁判!

There the righteous might reason with him, so I shoulde be deliuered for euer from my Iudge.

8 可是我往東行，他不在那裏；我往西行，也找不到他；

Behold, if I go to the East, he is not there: if to the West, yet I can not perceiue him:

9 往北找，也看不見他；往南去，也見不到他。

If to the North where he worketh, yet I cannot see him: he wil hide himselfe in the South, and I cannot beholde him.

10 他洞悉我所有的行動。他若試驗我，我必如純金出現。

But he knoweth my way, and trieth mee, and I shall come forth like the gold.

11 我的腳緊隨著他的足跡，謹守他的道，總沒有偏離。

My foote hath followed his steps: his way haue I kept, and haue not declined.

12 他所發的命令，我總沒有違背；他口中的訓言，我常保存在心中。

Neyther haue I departed from the commandement of his lippes, and I haue esteemed the words of his mouth more then mine appointed foode.

13 但他所決定的，誰能變更﹖他所樂意的，必要實行。

Yet he is in one minde, and who can turne him? yea, he doeth what his minde desireth.

14 他為我注定的，必要完成；類似的事，還有很多。

For he will performe that, which is decreed of me, and many such things are with him.

15 因此，為了他，我很驚慌，一想起來就害怕。

Therefore I am troubled at his presence, and in considering it, I am afraid of him.

16 天主使我的心沮喪，全能者使我恐怖。

For God hath softened mine heart, and the Almightie hath troubled me.

17 因為我雖面臨黑暗，幽暗雖遮蓋我的面，我仍不喪氣。

For I am not cut off in darknesse, but he hath hid the darkenesse from my face.