< 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﹖
Is there not a time of service to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?
As a servant that eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hireling that looketh for his wages;
3 這樣,我也只有承受失意的歲月,為我注定的苦痛長夜。
So am I made to possess — months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
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。
When I lie down, I say: 'When shall I arise?' But the night is long, and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin closeth up and breaketh out afresh.
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without 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。
O remember that my life is a breath; mine eye shall no more see good.
8 注目於我的,再也見不到我;你的眼看我時、我已不在了。
The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; while Thine eyes are upon me, I am gone.
9 他去了,好像雲消霧散;下到陰府的,再也不得上來, (Sheol )
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. (Sheol )
He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
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。
Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, that Thou settest a watch over me?
13 我若想:「我的床榻會寬慰我,我的臥舖會減輕我的痛苦。」
When I say: 'My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint';
Then Thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;
So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than these my bones.
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 loathe it; I shall not live alway; let me alone; for my days are vanity.
What is man, that Thou shouldest magnify him, and that Thou shouldest set Thy heart upon him,
And that Thou shouldest remember him every morning, and try him every moment?
How long wilt Thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
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﹖
If I have sinned, what do I unto Thee, O Thou watcher of men? Why hast Thou set me as a mark for Thee, so that I am a burden 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。
And why dost Thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; and Thou wilt seek me, but I shall not be.