約伯記 21
1 約伯回答說：
Job replied,
2 你們要細聽我的言語， 就算是你們安慰我。
“Please listen carefully to what I say—that would be one comfort you could give me.
3 請寬容我，我又要說話； 說了以後，任憑你們嗤笑吧！
Bear with me; let me speak. After I've spoken you can resume mocking me.
4 我豈是向人訴冤？ 為何不焦急呢？
Am I complaining against people? Of course not. Why shouldn't I be impatient?
5 你們要看着我而驚奇， 用手摀口。
Just take a look at me. Aren't you appalled? Cover your mouth with your hand in shock!
6 我每逢思想，心就驚惶， 渾身戰兢。
Every time I think of what's happened to me I am horrified and I shake all over with fear.
7 惡人為何存活， 享大壽數，勢力強盛呢？
Why do the wicked continue to live, to grow old and increasingly powerful?
8 他們眼見兒孫， 和他們一同堅立。
Their children are with them; they watch their grandchildren grow up.
9 他們的家宅平安無懼； 上帝的杖也不加在他們身上。
They live in their homes in safety—they are not afraid. God does not use his rod to beat them.
10 他們的公牛孳生而不斷絕； 母牛下犢而不掉胎。
Their bulls always breed successfully; their cows give birth to calves and do not miscarry.
11 他們打發小孩子出去，多如羊群； 他們的兒女踴躍跳舞。
They send out their little ones like lambs to play; their children dance around.
12 他們隨着琴鼓歌唱， 又因簫聲歡喜。
They sing accompanied by the tambourine and lyre; they celebrate with the music of the flute.
They live out their lives contentedly, and go down to Sheol in peace. (Sheol h7585)
14 他們對上帝說：離開我們吧！ 我們不願曉得你的道。
Yet they tell God, ‘Get lost! We don't want anything to do with you.
15 全能者是誰，我們何必事奉他呢？ 求告他有甚麼益處呢？
Who does the Almighty think he is for us to serve him as slaves? What benefit is there for us if we pray to him?’
16 看哪，他們亨通不在乎自己； 惡人所謀定的離我好遠。
Such people believe they make their own fortune, but I don't accept their way of thinking.
17 惡人的燈何嘗熄滅？ 患難何嘗臨到他們呢？ 上帝何嘗發怒，向他們分散災禍呢？
How often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does disaster come upon them? How often does God punish the wicked in his anger?
18 他們何嘗像風前的碎稭， 如暴風颳去的糠詷呢？
Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?
19 你們說：上帝為惡人的兒女積蓄罪孽； 我說：不如本人受報，好使他親自知道。
Some say, ‘God saves up people's punishment for their children.’ But I say, ‘God should punish those people themselves so that they can learn from it.’
20 願他親眼看見自己敗亡， 親自飲全能者的忿怒。
Let them see their destruction themselves, and drink deeply from God's anger.
21 他的歲月既盡， 他還顧他本家嗎？
For they don't care what happens to their families once they're dead.
22 上帝既審判那在高位的， 誰能將知識教訓他呢？
Can anyone teach God anything he doesn't already know, since he is the one who judges even heavenly beings?
23 有人至死身體強壯， 盡得平靖安逸；
One person dies in good health, totally comfortable and secure.
24 他的奶桶充滿， 他的骨髓滋潤。
Their body is fat from eating well; their bones still strong.
25 有人至死心中痛苦， 終身未嘗福樂的滋味；
Another dies after a miserable life without every experiencing happiness.
26 他們一樣躺臥在塵土中， 都被蟲子遮蓋。
Yet they are both buried in the same dust; they are treated alike in death, eaten by maggots.
27 我知道你們的意思， 並誣害我的計謀。
Look, I know what you're thinking, and your schemes to do me wrong.
28 你們說：霸者的房屋在哪裏？ 惡人住過的帳棚在哪裏？
You may ask me, ‘Where is the home of the great man? Where is the place where the wicked live?’
29 你們豈沒有詢問過路的人嗎？ 不知道他們所引的證據嗎？
Haven't you asked people who travel? Don't you pay attention to what they tell you?
30 就是惡人在禍患的日子得存留， 在發怒的日子得逃脫。
Wicked people are spared in times of disaster; they are rescued from the day of judgment.
31 他所行的，有誰當面給他說明？ 他所做的，有誰報應他呢？
Who confronts them with their actions? Who pays them back for what they have done?
32 然而他要被抬到塋地； 並有人看守墳墓。
When they eventually die and are carried to the graveyard, their tomb is guarded. The earth of the grave softly covers them.
33 他要以谷中的土塊為甘甜； 在他以先去的無數， 在他以後去的更多。
Everyone attends their funeral service; a huge procession of people comes to pay their last respects.
34 你們對答的話中既都錯謬， 怎麼徒然安慰我呢？
Why do you try to comfort me with worthless nonsense? Your answers are just a pack of lies!”
