约伯记 9
1 约伯回答说：
Job replied,
2 我真知道是这样； 但人在 神面前怎能成为义呢？
“Yes, I know all that! But how can anyone be right before God?
3 若愿意与他争辩， 千中之一也不能回答。
If you wanted to argue with God, God could ask a thousand questions that no-one could answer.
4 他心里有智慧，且大有能力。 谁向 神刚硬而得亨通呢？
God is so wise and so powerful that no-one could challenge him and win.
5 他发怒，把山翻倒挪移， 山并不知觉。
God moves the mountains suddenly; he overturns them in his anger.
6 他使地震动，离其本位， 地的柱子就摇撼。
He shakes the earth, making its foundations quake.
7 他吩咐日头不出来，就不出来， 又封闭众星。
He is the one who can command the sun not to rise and the stars not to shine.
8 他独自铺张苍天， 步行在海浪之上。
He alone is the one who stretches out the heavens and walks on the waves of the sea.
9 他造北斗、参星、昴星， 并南方的密宫；
He made the constellations of the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the southern sky.
10 他行大事，不可测度， 行奇事，不可胜数。
He is the one who does incredible things that are beyond our understanding, marvelous things that are uncountable.
11 他从我旁边经过，我却不看见； 他在我面前行走，我倒不知觉。
But when he passes by me, I don't see him; when he moves on, he is invisible to me.
12 他夺取，谁能阻挡？ 谁敢问他：你做什么？
If he takes away, who can prevent him? Who is going to ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 神必不收回他的怒气； 扶助拉哈伯的，屈身在他以下。
God does not restrain his anger; he crushes Rahab's helpers underfoot.
14 既是这样，我怎敢回答他， 怎敢选择言语与他辩论呢？
So how much less could I answer God, or choose my words to argue with him!
15 我虽有义，也不回答他， 只要向那审判我的恳求。
Even though I'm right, I can't answer him. I must plead for mercy from my judge.
16 我若呼吁，他应允我； 我仍不信他真听我的声音。
Even if I called him to come and he responded, I don't believe he would listen to me.
17 他用暴风折断我， 无故地加增我的损伤。
He pounds me with the winds of a storm; he wounds me time and again, without giving a reason.
18 我就是喘一口气，他都不容， 倒使我满心苦恼。
He doesn't give me a chance even to catch my breath; instead he fills my life with bitter suffering.
19 若论力量，他真有能力！ 若论审判，他说谁能将我传来呢？
If it's a question of strength, then God is the strongest. If it's a question of justice, then who will set a time for my case?
20 我虽有义，自己的口要定我为有罪； 我虽完全，我口必显我为弯曲。
Even though I am right, my own mouth would condemn me; even though I am innocent, he would prove me wrong.
21 我本完全，不顾自己； 我厌恶我的性命。
I am innocent! I don't care what happens to me. I hate my life!
22 善恶无分，都是一样； 所以我说，完全人和恶人，他都灭绝。
That's why I say, ‘It makes no difference to God. He destroys both the innocent and the wicked.’
23 若忽然遭杀害之祸， 他必戏笑无辜的人遇难。
When disaster strikes suddenly he mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 世界交在恶人手中； 蒙蔽世界审判官的脸， 若不是他，是谁呢？
The earth has been handed over to the wicked; he blinds the eyes of the judges—if it's not him who does this, then who is it?
25 我的日子比跑信的更快， 急速过去，不见福乐。
The days of my life race by like a runner, rushing past without me seeing any happiness.
26 我的日子过去如快船， 如急落抓食的鹰。
They pass by like fast sailing ships, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 我若说：我要忘记我的哀情， 除去我的愁容，心中畅快；
If I said to myself, ‘I will forget my complaints; I will stop crying and be happy,’
28 我因愁苦而惧怕， 知道你必不以我为无辜。
I would still be terrified at all my suffering because you, God, will not say I'm innocent.
29 我必被你定为有罪， 我何必徒然劳苦呢？
Since I'm condemned, what's the point in arguing?
30 我若用雪水洗身， 用硷洁净我的手，
Even if I wash myself with pure mountain water and clean my hands with soap,
31 你还要扔我在坑里， 我的衣服都憎恶我。
you would toss me into a slime pit so that even my own clothes would hate me!
32 他本不像我是人，使我可以回答他， 又使我们可以同听审判。
For God is not a mortal being like me, I can't defend myself or take him to court.
33 我们中间没有听讼的人 可以向我们两造按手。
If only there was an arbitrator who could bring us both together!
34 愿他把杖离开我， 不使惊惶威吓我。
I wish God would stop beating me with his rod and terrifying me!
35 我就说话，也不惧怕他， 现在我却不是那样。
Then I could speak up without being afraid—but since I am, I can't!”
