約伯記 33
1 約伯，請你且聽我的話，側耳靜聽我說的一切。
“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
2 請看，我已開口，舌頭已在口腔內發言。
Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.
3 我的話是出於正直的心，我的唇舌要清楚說明真理。
My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.
4 天主的神造了我，全能者的氣息使我生活。
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 你如果能夠，就回答我，請準備好，來對抗我。
Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.
6 看，我與你在天主前都是一樣，我也是用泥土造成的。
I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.
7 所以我的威嚇不會使你恐怖，我的手也不會重壓在你身上。
Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.
8 你所說的，我已耳聞，聽到了你所說的話：「
Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:
9 我本純潔無罪，清白無瑕。
‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.
10 但天主卻在我身上找錯，視我為他的對頭；
Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.
11 他把我的腳縛在木樁上，窺察我的一切行動。」
He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’
12 我答覆你說：你這話說的不對，因為天主遠超世人。
Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
13 他既不答覆你說的一切話，你為何還同他爭辯﹖
Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
14 原來天主用一種方法向人講話，人若不理會，他再用另一種方法：
For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.
15 天主有時藉夢和夜間的異像，當人躺在床上沉睡的時候，
In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,
16 開啟人的聽覺，用異像驚嚇他，
He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings
17 使人脫離惡念，使人剷除驕傲，
to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,
18 阻攔他陷於陰府，救他的性命脫離溝壑。
to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 天主也有時懲罰人在床上受痛苦，使他的骨頭不斷的刺痛，
A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,
20 以致他討厭食物，他的心厭惡美味。
so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food.
21 他身上的肉已消逝不見，他枯瘦的骨頭，已開始外露。
His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.
22 他的靈魂已臨近墓穴，他的生命已接近死亡之所。
He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.
23 一千天使中，若有一個在他身傍，作他的代言人，提醒他應行的義務，
Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,
24 且憐憫那人，為他轉求說：「求你拯救他，以免陷於陰府，因為我已找到了贖金。」
to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’
25 他的肉身比少年人的肉身必更健美，他的青春歲月又恢復了。
then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.
26 他祈求天主，必獲得悅納。他必歡樂得見天主的儀容，天主也必恢復他的正義。
He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.
27 那時，他將在人前重述所經歷的事說：「我犯了罪，顛倒了是非，但他沒有照我的罪罰我。
Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.
28 他救了我生命免入陰府，使我重見光明。」
He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’
29 這就是天主接二連三為人所做的事，
Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,
30 挽救他脫離陰府，重見生命之光。
to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 約伯啊! 請留神傾聽，靜靜地聽我說話!
Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 你若有話說，請即回覆我，你儘管說，因為我願聽你的理。
But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.
33 若沒有話，且聽我說，靜聽我要教給你的智慧。
But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”
