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﹖
“Isn’t a man forced to labour on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?
2 有如奴工切望陰涼，傭工期待工資：
As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks 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 I am made to possess months of misery, 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 will I arise, and the night be gone?’ I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.
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 worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.
6 我的日月速於織梭，也因無希望而中斷。
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。
Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye will 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 who sees me will see me no more. Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
10 不再回家，本鄉也不認識他。
He will return no more to his house, neither will 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 keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in 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 a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard 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 will comfort me. My couch will ease my complaint,’
14 你就以噩夢擾亂我，以異像驚嚇我。
then you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions,
15 我的心靈寧願窒息，寧死不願受此苦痛。
so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than 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 my life. I don’t want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17 人算什麼，你竟如此顯揚他，將他置諸心頭，
What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,
18 天天早晨看護他，時刻不斷考察他﹖
that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?
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 look away from me, nor leave me alone until 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 do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for 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。
Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I will not be.”
