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。

Even to-day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3 惟願我知道怎樣能尋到天主，能達到他的寶座前，

Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!

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 would know the words [which] 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 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 dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

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, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9 往北找，也看不見他；往南去，也見不到他。

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that 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 that I take: [when] he hath tried 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 foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and 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。

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].

13 但他所決定的，誰能變更﹖他所樂意的，必要實行。

But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.

14 他為我注定的，必要完成；類似的事，還有很多。

For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for 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 am I troubled at his presence: 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 soft, and the Almighty troubleth 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 cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.