約伯記 9
1 約伯答覆說：
Then Job answered and said,
2 我確實知道事情是這樣，但人怎能同天主講理﹖
I know [it is] so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
3 人若願意同天主辯論，千個問題中，誰也回答不出一個。
If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
4 雖心中明智，力量強大，但誰能對抗天主，而保平安﹖
[He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened [himself] against him, and hath prospered?
5 他可移山，山卻不知；他一發怒，山即翻轉；
Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
6 他振搖大地，使之脫離原處，地柱隨之搖撼震動；
Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7 他一下令，太陽即不昇起，星辰即封閉不動；
Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8 惟有他展開天空，步行海波之上；
Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 他創造了北斗和參宿，昂星及南極星辰；
Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 他所作的大事，不可勝數。
Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11 他由我身旁經過，我卻沒有看見；他走過去，我仍沒有發覺。
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12 他若搶奪，誰能阻擋﹖誰能問他說：「你作什麼﹖」
Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13 天主一憤怒，決不收回。為虎作倀的，必屈伏在他以下。
[If] God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
14 如此我怎敢回答，我怎敢措辭與他抗辯﹖
How much less shall I answer him, [and] choose out my words [to reason] with him?
15 縱然有理，也不敢回答，唯有哀求我的判官開恩。
Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer, [but] I would make supplication to my judge.
16 我向他呼求，縱然他答應我，我仍不相信他會聽我的呼聲。
If I had called, and he had answered me; [yet] would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
17 他為了一根頭髮而折磨我，無故增加我的創傷；
For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 致使我不能喘一口氣，使我飽嘗苦辛。
He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
19 論力量，他強而有力；論審判，誰能將他傳來﹖
If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]?
20 我雖自以為正義，他的口卻判定我有罪；我雖自覺無辜，他卻證明我有偏差。
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: [if I say], I [am] perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
21 我是無辜的，我已不顧及我的生命，我已厭惡生活下去。
[Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 因此我說：都是一樣。善人惡人，他一概滅絕。
This [is] one [thing], therefore I said [it], He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 若天災突然降下使人猝死，他便嘲笑無罪者的絕望。
If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
24 大地落在惡人的手裏，蒙蔽判官臉面的，不是他，是誰呢﹖
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, [and] who [is] he?
25 我的日月過去比跑信的還快；疾走而過，無福樂可享。
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26 急急駛過，似蘆葦船，如驟降攫食的鷹。
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle [that] hasteth to the prey.
27 我若決意忘掉我的哀怨，改變愁容，表示愉快；
If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort [myself: ]
28 但一想到我的痛苦，我就恐怖。我知道你決不以我為無辜。
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 我若是有罪，又何苦白費心血﹖
[If] I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
30 我即便用雪洗我身，用鹹水洗我手，
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 你卻把我浸在泥坑內，甚至我的衣服都憎惡我。
Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
32 因為他不像我是個人，使我能答覆他，或讓我們同去聽審。
For [he is] not a man, as I [am, that] I should answer him, [and] we should come together in judgment.
33 在我們中間沒有仲裁，可按手在我們兩造之間。
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, [that] might lay his hand upon us both.
34 但願他的棍杖遠離我，他的威嚴不要恐嚇我，
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35 我好能講話而不害怕；但是如今我並非如此。
[Then] would I speak, and not fear him; but [it is] not so with me.
