約伯記 23

1 約伯回答說：

Then Job answered and said:

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。

Still is my complaint bitter; But my wound is deeper than my groaning.

3 惟願我知道怎樣能尋到天主，能達到他的寶座前，

O that I knew where I might find him! That I might go before his throne!

4 好將我的案情向他陳訴，因為我口中滿了證詞!

I would order my 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 should know what he would answer me, And understand what he would say to me.

6 他豈能靠強力同我爭辯﹖決不，他必留神聽我。

Would he contend with me with his mighty power? No! he would have regard to 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!

Then would an upright man contend with him, And I should be fully acquitted by my judge.

8 可是我往東行，他不在那裏；我往西行，也找不到他；

But, behold, I go eastward, and he is not there; And westward, but I cannot perceive him;

9 往北找，也看不見他；往南去，也見不到他。

To the north, where he worketh, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the south, and I cannot see 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 the way which is in my heart; When he trieth me, I shall come 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 feet have trodden in his steps; His way I have kept, and have not turned aside from it.

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。

I have not neglected the precepts of his lips; Above my own law have I esteemed the words of his mouth.

13 但他所決定的，誰能變更﹖他所樂意的，必要實行。

But he is of one mind, and who can turn him? And what he desireth, that he doeth.

14 他為我注定的，必要完成；類似的事，還有很多。

He performeth that which is appointed for me; And many such things are in his mind!

15 因此，為了他，我很驚慌，一想起來就害怕。

Therefore I am in terror on account of him; When I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 天主使我的心沮喪，全能者使我恐怖。

For God maketh my heart faint; Yea, the Almighty terrifieth me;

17 因為我雖面臨黑暗，幽暗雖遮蓋我的面，我仍不喪氣。

Because I was not taken away before darkness came, And he hath not hidden darkness from mine eyes.