約伯記 7
1 人生在世，豈不像服兵役﹖人的歲月，豈不像傭工的時日﹖
The life of a man on the earth is a battle, and his days are like the days of a hired hand.
2 有如奴工切望陰涼，傭工期待工資：
Just as a servant desires the shade, and just as the hired hand looks forward to the end of his work,
3 這樣，我也只有承受失意的歲月，為我注定的苦痛長夜。
so also have I had empty months and have counted my burdensome nights.
4 我臥下時說：「幾時天亮﹖」我起來時又說：「黑夜何時到﹖」我整夜輾轉反側，直到天亮。
If I lie down to sleep, I will say, “When will I rise?” And next I will hope for the evening and will be filled with sorrows even until darkness.
5 我的肉身以蛆蟲與泥皮為衣，我的皮膚破裂流膿。
My flesh is clothed with particles of rottenness and filth; my skin is dried up and tightened.
6 我的日月速於織梭，也因無希望而中斷。
My days have passed by more quickly than threads are cut by a weaver, and they have been consumed without any hope.
7 請你記住：我的生命無非像一口氣，我的眼再也見不到幸福。
Remember that my life is wind, and my eye will not return to see good things.
8 注目於我的，再也見不到我；你的眼看我時、我已不在了。
Neither will the sight of man gaze upon me; your eyes are upon me, and I will not endure.
Just as a cloud is consumed and passes away, so he who descends to hell will not ascend. (Sheol h7585)
10 不再回家，本鄉也不認識他。
He will not return again to his house, nor will his own place know him any longer.
11 為此，我不能再閉口不言，我要吐露我心靈的憂愁，陳述我靈魂的苦楚。
And because of this, I will not restrain my mouth. I will speak in the affliction of my spirit. I will converse from the bitterness of my soul.
12 我豈是海洋或海怪﹖你竟派遣警衛把守我。
Am I an ocean or a whale, that you have encircled me in a prison?
13 我若想：「我的床榻會寬慰我，我的臥舖會減輕我的痛苦。」
If I say, “My bed will comfort me, and I will find rest, speaking with myself on my blanket,”
14 你就以噩夢擾亂我，以異像驚嚇我。
then you will frighten me with dreams, and strike dread through visions,
15 我的心靈寧願窒息，寧死不願受此苦痛。
so that, because of these things, my soul would choose hanging, and my bones, death.
16 我已筋疲力盡，活不下去。任憑我去罷! 因為我的日月僅是一口氣。
I despair; by no means will I live any longer. Spare me, for my days are nothing.
17 人算什麼，你竟如此顯揚他，將他置諸心頭，
What is man, that you should praise him? Or why do you place your heart near him?
18 天天早晨看護他，時刻不斷考察他﹖
You visit him at dawn, and you test him unexpectedly.
19 你到何時纔不注視我，而讓我輕鬆咽一下唾沫﹖
How long will you not spare me, nor release me to ingest my saliva?
20 監察人者啊! 我犯罪與你何干﹖為何叫我當你的箭靶，使我成為你的重擔﹖
I have sinned; what should I do for you, O keeper of men? Why have you set me against you, so that I have become burdensome even to myself?
21 為何你不肯容忍我的過錯，寬赦我的罪惡﹖不久我將臥在塵土中，任你尋找我，我已不在了。
Why do you not steal away my sin, and why do you not sweep away my iniquity? Behold, now I will sleep in the dust, and if you seek me in the morning, I will not remain.
