約伯記 9
1 約伯答覆說：
Then answered Job, and said,
2 我確實知道事情是這樣，但人怎能同天主講理﹖
Truly I know that it is so: and how could a mortal be righteous before 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 were desirous to enter into a contest with him, he could not give him one answer out 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 of heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and escaped unscathed?
5 他可移山，山卻不知；他一發怒，山即翻轉；
[He it is] who removeth mountains, and they know it not, yea, when he 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；
Who shaketh the earth loose out of her place, that her pillars tremble;
7 他一下令，太陽即不昇起，星辰即封閉不動；
Who speaketh to the sun, and he shineth not, and around the stars he placeth a seal;
8 惟有他展開天空，步行海波之上；
Who spread out the heavens by himself alone, and treadeth upon the hillocks of the sea;
9 他創造了北斗和參宿，昂星及南極星辰；
Who made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers the south;
10 他所作的大事，不可勝數。
Who doth great things which are quite unsearchable, and wonders which are quite 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, were he to go past by me, I should not see him; and were he to pass along, I should not perceive him.
12 他若搶奪，誰能阻擋﹖誰能問他說：「你作什麼﹖」
Behold, were he to snatch aught away, who could hold him back? who would say unto him, What dost thou?
13 天主一憤怒，決不收回。為虎作倀的，必屈伏在他以下。
God will not withdraw his anger: beneath him sink down the helpers of the proud.
14 如此我怎敢回答，我怎敢措辭與他抗辯﹖
How much less then could I answer him, and select my words [to contend] with him?
15 縱然有理，也不敢回答，唯有哀求我的判官開恩。
Whom, were I even righteous, I could not answer? to him that condemneth me I could [only] make supplication.
16 我向他呼求，縱然他答應我，我仍不相信他會聽我的呼聲。
Or were I to call, and he would answer me, I could yet not believe that he would give ear unto my voice—
17 他為了一根頭髮而折磨我，無故增加我的創傷；
He that bruiseth me with [his] tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without a cause.
18 致使我不能喘一口氣，使我飽嘗苦辛。
He suffereth me not to recover my breath; but feedeth me overmuch with bitter things.
19 論力量，他強而有力；論審判，誰能將他傳來﹖
If it regard strength, lo, he is the powerful; and if justice, who will cite him for me to appear?
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 were righteous even, my own mouth would condemn me: were I innocent, it would still 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。
I am innocent; I will not have regard for myself: I will despise my life.
22 因此我說：都是一樣。善人惡人，他一概滅絕。
One thing is [certain], therefore have I said it, The innocent and the wicked he bringeth to their end.
23 若天災突然降下使人猝死，他便嘲笑無罪者的絕望。
If a scourge should slay suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the guiltless.
24 大地落在惡人的手裏，蒙蔽判官臉面的，不是他，是誰呢﹖
Is a land given up into the hand of the wicked? he covereth the faces of its judges: if this be not the truth, who is it then?
25 我的日月過去比跑信的還快；疾走而過，無福樂可享。
And my days pass swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no happiness,
26 急急駛過，似蘆葦船，如驟降攫食的鷹。
They hasten along like pirate ships: like the eagle that stoopeth down upon his food.
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 sorrowful countenance, and recover my cheerfulness:
28 但一想到我的痛苦，我就恐怖。我知道你決不以我為無辜。
O then would I be in dread of all my pains; I know that thou wilt not declare me innocent.
29 我若是有罪，又何苦白費心血﹖
I must ever be guilty: why then should I fatigue myself for nought?
30 我即便用雪洗我身，用鹹水洗我手，
If I were to wash myself in snow-water, to cleanse myself in the purity of my hands:
31 你卻把我浸在泥坑內，甚至我的衣服都憎惡我。
Even then wouldst thou plunge me in the ditch, that my own clothes would render me abhorred.
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, like me, that I could answer him, that we should enter together into a contest.
33 在我們中間沒有仲裁，可按手在我們兩造之間。
There is no one who can decide between us, who could 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 but remove from me his rod, and let not his dread 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; for the like I feel not within me.
