< 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 an appointed time to man on earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
As a servant earnestly desires the shadow, and as an hireling looks for the reward 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 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, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro to the dawning of the day.
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
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 wind: my 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 has seen me shall see me no more: your eyes are on me, and I am not.
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 vanishes away: so he that goes 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 whale, that you set 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 complaints;
Then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions:
So that my soul chooses strangling, and death rather than my life.
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 would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
What is man, that you should magnify him? and that you should set your heart on him?
And that you should visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
How long will you not depart 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﹖
I have sinned; what shall I do to you, O you preserver of men? why have you set me as a mark against you, 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 do you not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and you shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.