約伯記 9
1 約伯回答說：
Then Job answered:
2 我真知道是這樣； 但人在上帝面前怎能成為義呢？
“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?
3 若願意與他爭辯， 千中之一也不能回答。
If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
4 他心裏有智慧，且大有能力。 誰向上帝剛硬而得亨通呢？
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?
5 他發怒，把山翻倒挪移， 山並不知覺。
He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger.
6 他使地震動，離其本位， 地的柱子就搖撼。
He shakes the earth from its place, so that its foundations tremble.
7 他吩咐日頭不出來，就不出來， 又封閉眾星。
He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars.
8 他獨自鋪張蒼天， 步行在海浪之上。
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 他造北斗、參星、昴星， 並南方的密宮；
He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10 他行大事，不可測度， 行奇事，不可勝數。
He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.
11 他從我旁邊經過，我卻不看見； 他在我面前行走，我倒不知覺。
Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him.
12 他奪取，誰能阻擋？ 誰敢問他：你做甚麼？
If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13 上帝必不收回他的怒氣； 扶助拉哈伯的，屈身在他以下。
God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.
14 既是這樣，我怎敢回答他， 怎敢選擇言語與他辯論呢？
How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?
15 我雖有義，也不回答他， 只要向那審判我的懇求。
For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.
16 我若呼籲，他應允我； 我仍不信他真聽我的聲音。
If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.
17 他用暴風折斷我， 無故地加增我的損傷。
For He would crush me with a tempest and multiply my wounds without cause.
18 我就是喘一口氣，他都不容， 倒使我滿心苦惱。
He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness.
19 若論力量，他真有能力！ 若論審判，他說誰能將我傳來呢？
If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?
20 我雖有義，自己的口要定我為有罪； 我雖完全，我口必顯我為彎曲。
Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.
21 我本完全，不顧自己； 我厭惡我的性命。
Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
22 善惡無分，都是一樣； 所以我說，完全人和惡人，他都滅絕。
It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23 若忽然遭殺害之禍， 他必戲笑無辜的人遇難。
When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 世界交在惡人手中； 蒙蔽世界審判官的臉， 若不是他，是誰呢？
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
25 我的日子比跑信的更快， 急速過去，不見福樂。
My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good.
26 我的日子過去如快船， 如急落抓食的鷹。
They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 我若說：我要忘記我的哀情， 除去我的愁容，心中暢快；
If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’
28 我因愁苦而懼怕， 知道你必不以我為無辜。
I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.
29 我必被你定為有罪， 我何必徒然勞苦呢？
Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?
30 我若用雪水洗身， 用鹼潔淨我的手，
If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 你還要扔我在坑裏， 我的衣服都憎惡我。
then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.
32 他本不像我是人，使我可以回答他， 又使我們可以同聽審判。
For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.
33 我們中間沒有聽訟的人 可以向我們兩造按手。
Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.
34 願他把杖離開我， 不使驚惶威嚇我。
Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me.
35 我就說話，也不懼怕他， 現在我卻不是那樣。
Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.
