約伯記 9
1 約伯答覆說：
Then Job answered,
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, but how can 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 is pleased to contend with him, he can't answer him one time in a thousand.
4 雖心中明智，力量強大，但誰能對抗天主，而保平安﹖
For he is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?
5 他可移山，山卻不知；他一發怒，山即翻轉；
He removes the mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6 他振搖大地，使之脫離原處，地柱隨之搖撼震動；
He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
7 他一下令，太陽即不昇起，星辰即封閉不動；
He commands the sun, and it doesn't rise, and seals up the stars.
8 惟有他展開天空，步行海波之上；
He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 他創造了北斗和參宿，昂星及南極星辰；
He makes Osh, Kesil, and Kimah, and the chambers of the south.
10 他所作的大事，不可勝數。
He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things 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。
Look, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He passes on also, but I do not perceive him.
12 他若搶奪，誰能阻擋﹖誰能問他說：「你作什麼﹖」
Look, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, 'What are you doing?'
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. The helpers of Rahab 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 my words to argue with him?
15 縱然有理，也不敢回答，唯有哀求我的判官開恩。
Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn't answer him. I would make petition 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 I wouldn't believe that he listened to my voice.
17 他為了一根頭髮而折磨我，無故增加我的創傷；
For he bruises me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 致使我不能喘一口氣，使我飽嘗苦辛。
He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 論力量，他強而有力；論審判，誰能將他傳來﹖
If it is a matter of strength, look, he is mighty. And if of justice, who will summon him?
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。
Though I am righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I am blameless, it shall 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 blameless. I do not regard myself. I despise my life.
22 因此我說：都是一樣。善人惡人，他一概滅絕。
"It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless 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 kills suddenly, he will mock 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 covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?
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 runner. They flee away, they see no good,
26 急急駛過，似蘆葦船，如驟降攫食的鷹。
They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on 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 put off my sad face, and cheer up;'
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 you will not hold me innocent.
29 我若是有罪，又何苦白費心血﹖
I shall be condemned. Why then do I labor 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 cleanse my hands with lye,
31 你卻把我浸在泥坑內，甚至我的衣服都憎惡我。
yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My 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, that 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。
There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on 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. Let his terror not make me afraid;
35 我好能講話而不害怕；但是如今我並非如此。
then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
