< 約伯記 1 >
1 從前在胡茲地方,有一個人名叫約伯,為人十全十美,生性正直,敬畏天主,遠離邪惡。
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and this man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and abstained from evil.
And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 家畜有七千隻羊,三千駱駝,五百對牛,五百母驢,且有很多僕人。此人是當時東方人民中最偉大的人物。
And his substance was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and very many servants; and this man was greater than all the children of the east.
4 他的每個兒子,按日輪流在家中設宴,且派人邀請他們的三個姊妹來一同宴飲。
And his sons went and made a feast in the house of each one on his day; and they sent and invited their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 及至宴飲的日子輪流一週,約伯總是派人召集他們來聖潔他們,清早起來照子女的數目,獻上全燔祭品說:「恐怕我的兒子犯了罪,心中詛咒了天主。」約伯常常如此行事。
And it was so, when the days of the feasting were gone about, that Job sent and hallowed them; and he rose up early in the morning, and offered up burnt-offerings [according to] the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6 有一天,天主的眾子都來侍立在上主面前,撒殫也夾在他們當中。
And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah; and Satan came also among them.
7 上主問撒殫說:「你從那裏來﹖」撒殫回答上主說:「我走遍了世界,周遊了各地回來。」
And Jehovah said to Satan, Whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 上主對撒殫說:「你曾留心注意到我的僕人約伯沒有﹖因為世上沒有一個像他那樣十全十美,生性正直,敬畏天主,遠避邪惡的人。」
And Jehovah said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and abstaineth from evil?
9 撒殫回答上主說:「約伯那裏是無緣無故敬畏天主的呢﹖
And Satan answered Jehovah and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 你不是四面保護他、他的家庭和他所有的一切麼﹖並且凡是他親手做的,你都祝福了;你使他的牲畜在地上繁殖增多。
Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is spread abroad in the land.
11 但是你若伸手打擊他所有的一切,他必定當面詛咒你。」
But put forth thy hand now and touch all that he hath, [and see] if he will not curse thee to thy face!
12 上主對撒殫說:「看,他所有的一切,都隨你處理,只是不要伸手加害他的身體。」撒殫遂離開天主走了。
And Jehovah said to Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy hand; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.
13 有一天,他的兒子同他的女兒,正在長兄家裏歡宴飲酒的時候,
And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn.
14 有個帶信的人跑來向約伯說:「牛正在耕田,母驢在一旁吃草的時候,
And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them;
15 舍巴人突然闖來將牲口搶了去,用刀將那些僕人殺了,只有我一人逃脫,來向你報告。」
and [they of] Sheba fell [upon them] and took them, and the servants have they smitten with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.
16 這人還在報告時,另一個人跑來說:「天主的火由天降下,將羊群和僕人都燒死了,只有我一人逃脫,來向你報告。」
While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.
17 這人還在報告時,另一個人跑來說:「加色丁人分成三隊闖入駱駝群,將駱駝搶走了,用刀將僕人殺了,只有我一人逃脫,來向你報告。」
While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels and took them, and the servants have they smitten with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.
18 這人還在報告時,另一個人跑來說:「你的兒女正在長兄家宴飲的時候,
While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn;
19 忽然從曠野那邊吹來一陣颶風,颳倒了房屋的四角,壓死了你的孩子,只有我一人幸免,來向你報告。」
and behold, there came a great wind from over the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they died; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.
20 約伯就起來,撕裂了自己的外氅,剃去頭髮,俯伏在地叩拜,
And Job rose up, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshipped;
21 說「我赤身脫離母胎,也要赤身歸去;上主賜的,上主收回。願上主的名受到讚美! 」
and he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah!
22 就這一切事而論,約伯並沒有犯罪,也沒有說抱怨天主的話。
In all this Job sinned not, nor ascribed anything unseemly to God.