約伯記 21
1 約伯回答說：
Then answered Job, and said,
2 你們要細聽我的言語， 就算是你們安慰我。
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 請寬容我，我又要說話； 說了以後，任憑你們嗤笑吧！
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 我豈是向人訴冤？ 為何不焦急呢？
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 你們要看着我而驚奇， 用手摀口。
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 我每逢思想，心就驚惶， 渾身戰兢。
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
7 惡人為何存活， 享大壽數，勢力強盛呢？
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
8 他們眼見兒孫， 和他們一同堅立。
Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
9 他們的家宅平安無懼； 上帝的杖也不加在他們身上。
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 他們的公牛孳生而不斷絕； 母牛下犢而不掉胎。
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
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 forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
12 他們隨着琴鼓歌唱， 又因簫聲歡喜。
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
14 他們對上帝說：離開我們吧！ 我們不願曉得你的道。
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
15 全能者是誰，我們何必事奉他呢？ 求告他有甚麼益處呢？
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 看哪，他們亨通不在乎自己； 惡人所謀定的離我好遠。
Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
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 quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot 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 as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth 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。
Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
20 願他親眼看見自己敗亡， 親自飲全能者的忿怒。
His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
21 他的歲月既盡， 他還顧他本家嗎？
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 上帝既審判那在高位的， 誰能將知識教訓他呢？
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 有人至死身體強壯， 盡得平靖安逸；
That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 他的奶桶充滿， 他的骨髓滋潤。
His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 有人至死心中痛苦， 終身未嘗福樂的滋味；
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 他們一樣躺臥在塵土中， 都被蟲子遮蓋。
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 我知道你們的意思， 並誣害我的計謀。
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
28 你們說：霸者的房屋在哪裏？ 惡人住過的帳棚在哪裏？
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
29 你們豈沒有詢問過路的人嗎？ 不知道他們所引的證據嗎？
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
30 就是惡人在禍患的日子得存留， 在發怒的日子得逃脫。
That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
31 他所行的，有誰當面給他說明？ 他所做的，有誰報應他呢？
[But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
32 然而他要被抬到塋地； 並有人看守墳墓。
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
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。
Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
34 你們對答的話中既都錯謬， 怎麼徒然安慰我呢？
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
