約伯記 23

1 約伯回答說：

And Job answers and says:

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。

“Also—today my complaint [is] bitter, My hand has been heavy because of my sighing.

3 惟願我知道怎樣能尋到天主，能達到他的寶座前，

O that I had known—and I find Him, I come to His seat,

4 好將我的案情向他陳訴，因為我口中滿了證詞!

I arrange 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 know the words He answers me, And understand what He says to me.

6 他豈能靠強力同我爭辯﹖決不，他必留神聽我。

Does He strive with me in the abundance of power? No! Surely He puts [it] 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 upright reason with Him, And I escape from mine who is judging—forever.

8 可是我往東行，他不在那裏；我往西行，也找不到他；

Behold, I go forward—and He is not, And backward—and I do not perceive Him.

9 往北找，也看不見他；往南去，也見不到他。

[To] the left in His working—and I do not see, He is covered [on] the right, and I do not behold.

10 他洞悉我所有的行動。他若試驗我，我必如純金出現。

For He has known the way with me, He has tried me—I go forth as gold.

11 我的腳緊隨著他的足跡，謹守他的道，總沒有偏離。

My foot has laid hold on His step, I have kept His way, and do not turn aside,

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。

The command of His lips, and I do not depart. I have laid up above my allotted portion The sayings of His mouth.

13 但他所決定的，誰能變更﹖他所樂意的，必要實行。

And He [is] in one [mind], And who turns Him back? And His soul has desired—and He does [it].

14 他為我注定的，必要完成；類似的事，還有很多。

For He completes my portion, 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, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

16 天主使我的心沮喪，全能者使我恐怖。

And God has made my heart soft, And the Mighty has 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 have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.”