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﹖
Of a truth, I know that it is so: For how can man be just 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 choose to contend with him, He cannot answer him to one charge 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 excellent in wisdom, mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?
5 他可移山，山卻不知；他一發怒，山即翻轉；
He removeth the mountains, and they know it not; 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；
He 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；
He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And he sealeth up the stars.
8 惟有他展開天空，步行海波之上；
He alone spreadeth out the heavens, And walketh upon the high waves of the sea.
9 他創造了北斗和參宿，昂星及南極星辰；
He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the secret chambers of the South.
10 他所作的大事，不可勝數。
He doeth great things past finding out, Yea, wonderful 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。
Lo! he goeth by me, but I see him not; He passeth along, but I do not perceive him.
12 他若搶奪，誰能阻擋﹖誰能問他說：「你作什麼﹖」
Lo! he seizeth, and who can hinder him? Who will say to 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。
God will not turn away his anger; The proud helpers are brought low before 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 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。
Though I were innocent, I would not answer him; I would cast myself on the mercy of 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。
Should I call, and he make answer to me, I could not 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；
He who falleth upon 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。
Who 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 look to strength, “Lo! here am I!” [[saith he, ]] If to justice, “Who shall summon me to trial?”
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 were upright, yet must my own mouth condemn me; Though I were innocent, He would 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 innocent, I would not care for myself; I would despise my life.
22 因此我說：都是一樣。善人惡人，他一概滅絕。
It is all one; therefore I will affirm, He destroyeth the righteous and the wicked alike.
23 若天災突然降下使人猝死，他便嘲笑無罪者的絕望。
When the scourge bringeth sudden destruction, He laugheth at the sufferings 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 hands of the wicked; He covereth the face of the judges thereof; If it be not He, 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。
My days have been swifter than a courier; They have fled away; they have seen no good.
26 急急駛過，似蘆葦船，如驟降攫食的鷹。
They have gone by like the reed-skiffs; Like the eagle, darting upon his 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 lamentation, I will change my countenance, and take courage,
28 但一想到我的痛苦，我就恐怖。我知道你決不以我為無辜。
Still am I in dread of the multitude of my sorrows; For I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 我若是有罪，又何苦白費心血﹖
I shall be found guilty; Why then should I labor in vain?
30 我即便用雪洗我身，用鹹水洗我手，
If I wash myself in snow, 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。
Still wilt thou plunge me into the pit, So that my own clothes will 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 may contend with him, And that we may go together into 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, Who may 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 from me his rod, And not dismay me with his terrors,
35 我好能講話而不害怕；但是如今我並非如此。
Then I will speak, and not be afraid of him: For I am not so at heart.
