約伯記 12
1 約伯回答說：
Then Job, answering, said:
2 你們真是子民哪， 你們死亡，智慧也就滅沒了。
Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will wisdom die with you?
3 但我也有聰明，與你們一樣， 並非不及你們。 你們所說的，誰不知道呢？
And I have a heart just as you also do, and I am not inferior to you. For who is ignorant of these things, which you know?
4 我這求告上帝、蒙他應允的人 竟成了朋友所譏笑的； 公義完全人竟受了人的譏笑。
He who is mocked by his friends as I am, will call upon God, and he will listen to him because it is the sincerity of the just that is being mocked.
5 安逸的人心裏藐視災禍； 這災禍常常等待滑腳的人。
The lamp that is despised in the thoughts of the rich is ready for the appointed time.
6 強盜的帳棚興旺， 惹上帝的人穩固， 上帝多將財物送到他們手中。
The tabernacles of robbers are numerous, and they provoke God boldly; whereas, it is he who has given all things into their hands.
7 你且問走獸，走獸必指教你； 又問空中的飛鳥，飛鳥必告訴你；
In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.
8 或與地說話，地必指教你； 海中的魚也必向你說明。
Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.
9 看這一切， 誰不知道是耶和華的手做成的呢？
Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord has made all these things?
10 凡活物的生命和人類的氣息都在他手中。
In his hand is the soul of all the living and the spirit of all the flesh of mankind.
11 耳朵豈不試驗言語， 正如上膛嘗食物嗎？
Does not the ear perceive words, and the palate, when eating, perceive flavor?
12 年老的有智慧； 壽高的有知識。
In old age is wisdom, and in length of days is prudence.
13 在上帝有智慧和能力； 他有謀略和知識。
With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.
14 他拆毀的，就不能再建造； 他捆住人，便不得開釋。
If he tears down, there is no one who can build up; if he encloses a man, there is no one who can open.
15 他把水留住，水便枯乾； 他再發出水來，水就翻地。
If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.
16 在他有能力和智慧， 被誘惑的與誘惑人的都是屬他。
With him is strength and wisdom; he knows both the deceiver and he who is deceived.
17 他把謀士剝衣擄去， 又使審判官變成愚人。
He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.
18 他放鬆君王的綁， 又用帶子捆他們的腰。
He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.
19 他把祭司剝衣擄去， 又使有能的人傾敗。
He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,
20 他廢去忠信人的講論， 又奪去老人的聰明。
altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.
21 他使君王蒙羞被辱， 放鬆有力之人的腰帶。
He pours disdain upon the leaders, relieving those who had been oppressed.
22 他將深奧的事從黑暗中彰顯， 使死蔭顯為光明。
He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.
23 他使邦國興旺而又毀滅； 他使邦國開廣而又擄去。
He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.
24 他將地上民中首領的聰明奪去， 使他們在荒廢無路之地漂流；
He transforms the heart of the leaders of the people on earth, and misleads those who in vain advance upon the inviolable.
25 他們無光，在黑暗中摸索， 又使他們東倒西歪，像醉酒的人一樣。
They will grope as in the darkness, not the light, and he will make them stagger like drunkards.
