約伯記 23

1 約伯回答說：

Then Job replied again,

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。

“Today I am again complaining bitterly/strongly [to God]; I [continue] groaning, but he [SYN] [continues to] (punish me/cause me to suffer).

3 惟願我知道怎樣能尋到天主，能達到他的寶座前，

I (wish that I knew/want to know) where I could meet/talk with him, so that I could go to the place where he lives.

4 好將我的案情向他陳訴，因為我口中滿了證詞!

If I could do that, I would tell him why [I know that] I am innocent; I would tell [MTY] to him all my (arguments/evidence [to show that I have not done what is evil]).

5 唯願我知道他答覆我的話，明瞭他向我說什麼!

Then I would find out what he would reply to me [DOU].

6 他豈能靠強力同我爭辯﹖決不，他必留神聽我。

Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would listen to me carefully.

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!

I am (an honest/a righteous) man; so I would be able to discuss things with him [fairly], and then he would declare that I am innocent, [and that decision would endure] forever.

8 可是我往東行，他不在那裏；我往西行，也找不到他；

“But, I have gone to the east, and he is not there; I have gone to the west, but I have not found him there.

9 往北找，也看不見他；往南去，也見不到他。

I have gone north and I have gone south, but I have not seen him anywhere.

10 他洞悉我所有的行動。他若試驗我，我必如純金出現。

But he knows how I have conducted my life; and when he has finished testing me, [he] will [see that] I [am] as pure as [SIM] gold [whose impurities have all been burned out].

11 我的腳緊隨著他的足跡，謹守他的道，總沒有偏離。

I [SYN] have faithfully walked on the path that he showed me; I have not stopped [obeying] him.

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 always obeyed what he [SYN] commanded; I have treasured the words that he has spoken.

13 但他所決定的，誰能變更﹖他所樂意的，必要實行。

“He never changes. There is no one who can [RHQ] stop him [from doing what he desires]. Whatever he wants to do, he does.

14 他為我注定的，必要完成；類似的事，還有很多。

And he will finish doing for me the things that he has planned for me; [and I am sure that] he has thought about doing many things for me.

15 因此，為了他，我很驚慌，一想起來就害怕。

So I am terrified in his presence; when I think [about what he can do], I am very afraid [DOU].

16 天主使我的心沮喪，全能者使我恐怖。

Almighty God has caused me [SYN] to feel terrified [DOU].

17 因為我雖面臨黑暗，幽暗雖遮蓋我的面，我仍不喪氣。

[It is as though] there is only thick darkness in front of me, but it is God that I am afraid of, not the darkness.”