約伯記 38
1 那時，耶和華從旋風中回答約伯說：
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
2 誰用無知的言語使我的旨意暗昧不明？
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 你要如勇士束腰； 我問你，你可以指示我。
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me.
4 我立大地根基的時候，你在哪裏呢？ 你若有聰明，只管說吧！
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast the understanding.
5 你若曉得就說，是誰定地的尺度？ 是誰把準繩拉在其上？
Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 地的根基安置在何處？ 地的角石是誰安放的？
Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,
7 那時，晨星一同歌唱； 上帝的眾子也都歡呼。
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 海水衝出，如出胎胞， 那時誰將它關閉呢？
Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, and issued out of the womb;
9 是我用雲彩當海的衣服， 用幽暗當包裹它的布，
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
10 為它定界限， 又安門和閂，
And prescribed for it My decree, and set bars and doors,
11 說：你只可到這裏，不可越過； 你狂傲的浪要到此止住。
And said: 'Thus far shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed'?
12 你自生以來，曾命定晨光， 使清晨的日光知道本位，
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days began, and caused the dayspring to know its place;
13 叫這光普照地的四極， 將惡人從其中驅逐出來嗎？
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 因這光，地面改變如泥上印印， 萬物出現如衣服一樣。
It is changed as clay under the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 亮光不照惡人； 強橫的膀臂也必折斷。
But from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm is broken.
16 你曾進到海源， 或在深淵的隱密處行走嗎？
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 死亡的門曾向你顯露嗎？ 死蔭的門你曾見過嗎？
Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 地的廣大你能明透嗎？ 你若全知道，只管說吧！
Hast thou surveyed unto the breadths of the earth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.
19 光明的居所從何而至？ 黑暗的本位在於何處？
Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and as for darkness, where is the place thereof;
20 你能帶到本境， 能看明其室之路嗎？
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
21 你總知道， 因為你早已生在世上， 你日子的數目也多。
Thou knowest it, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 你曾進入雪庫， 或見過雹倉嗎？
Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, or hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
23 這雪雹乃是我為降災， 並打仗和爭戰的日子所預備的。
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 光亮從何路分開？ 東風從何路分散遍地？
By what way is the light parted, or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25 誰為雨水分道？ 誰為雷電開路？
Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, or a way for the lightning of the thunder;
26 使雨降在無人之地、 無人居住的曠野？
To cause it to rain on a land where no man is, on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 使荒廢淒涼之地得以豐足， 青草得以發生？
To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 雨有父嗎？ 露水珠是誰生的呢？
Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 冰出於誰的胎？ 天上的霜是誰生的呢？
Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoar-frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 諸水堅硬如石頭； 深淵之面凝結成冰。
The waters are congealed like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 你能繫住昴星的結嗎？ 能解開參星的帶嗎？
Canst thou bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 你能按時領出十二宮嗎？ 能引導北斗和隨它的眾星嗎？
Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her sons?
33 你知道天的定例嗎？ 能使地歸在天的權下嗎？
Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 你能向雲彩揚起聲來， 使傾盆的雨遮蓋你嗎？
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 你能發出閃電，叫它行去， 使它對你說：我們在這裏？
Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee: 'Here we are'?
36 誰將智慧放在懷中？ 誰將聰明賜於心內？
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind?
37 誰能用智慧數算雲彩呢？ 塵土聚集成團，土塊緊緊結連； 那時，誰能傾倒天上的瓶呢？
Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
When the dust runneth into a mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 母獅子在洞中蹲伏， 少壯獅子在隱密處埋伏； 你能為牠們抓取食物， 使牠們飽足嗎？
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lioness? Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 烏鴉之雛因無食物飛來飛去，哀告上帝； 那時，誰為牠預備食物呢？
Who provideth for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry unto God, and wander for lack of food?
