約伯記 9
1 約伯回答說：
Job replied,
2 我真知道是這樣； 但人在上帝面前怎能成為義呢？
“Yes, I know all that! But how can anyone be right before God?
3 若願意與他爭辯， 千中之一也不能回答。
If you wanted to argue with God, God could ask a thousand questions that no-one could answer.
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 so wise and so powerful that no-one could challenge him and win.
5 他發怒，把山翻倒挪移， 山並不知覺。
God moves the mountains suddenly; he 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, making its foundations quake.
7 他吩咐日頭不出來，就不出來， 又封閉眾星。
He is the one who can command the sun not to rise and the stars not to shine.
8 他獨自鋪張蒼天， 步行在海浪之上。
He alone is the one who stretches out the heavens and walks on the waves of the sea.
9 他造北斗、參星、昴星， 並南方的密宮；
He made the constellations of the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the southern sky.
10 他行大事，不可測度， 行奇事，不可勝數。
He is the one who does incredible things that are beyond our understanding, marvelous things that are uncountable.
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。
But when he passes by me, I don't see him; when he moves on, he is invisible to me.
12 他奪取，誰能阻擋？ 誰敢問他：你做甚麼？
If he takes away, who can prevent him? Who is going 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; he crushes Rahab's helpers underfoot.
14 既是這樣，我怎敢回答他， 怎敢選擇言語與他辯論呢？
So how much less could I answer God, or choose my words to argue with him!
15 我雖有義，也不回答他， 只要向那審判我的懇求。
Even though I'm right, I can't answer him. I must plead for mercy from my judge.
16 我若呼籲，他應允我； 我仍不信他真聽我的聲音。
Even if I called him to come and he responded, I don't believe he would listen to me.
17 他用暴風折斷我， 無故地加增我的損傷。
He pounds me with the winds of a storm; he wounds me time and again, without giving a reason.
18 我就是喘一口氣，他都不容， 倒使我滿心苦惱。
He doesn't give me a chance even to catch my breath; instead he fills my life with bitter suffering.
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's a question of strength, then God is the strongest. If it's a question of justice, then who will set a time for my case?
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 though I am right, my own mouth would condemn me; even though I am innocent, he would prove me wrong.
21 我本完全，不顧自己； 我厭惡我的性命。
I am innocent! I don't care what happens to me. I hate my life!
22 善惡無分，都是一樣； 所以我說，完全人和惡人，他都滅絕。
That's why I say, ‘It makes no difference to God. He destroys both the innocent and the wicked.’
23 若忽然遭殺害之禍， 他必戲笑無辜的人遇難。
When disaster strikes suddenly 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 has been handed over to the wicked; he blinds the eyes of the judges—if it's not him who does this, then who is it?
25 我的日子比跑信的更快， 急速過去，不見福樂。
The days of my life race by like a runner, rushing past without me seeing any happiness.
26 我的日子過去如快船， 如急落抓食的鷹。
They pass by like fast sailing ships, 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 said to myself, ‘I will forget my complaints; I will stop crying and be happy,’
28 我因愁苦而懼怕， 知道你必不以我為無辜。
I would still be terrified at all my suffering because you, God, will not say I'm innocent.
29 我必被你定為有罪， 我何必徒然勞苦呢？
Since I'm condemned, what's the point in arguing?
30 我若用雪水洗身， 用鹼潔淨我的手，
Even if I wash myself with pure mountain water and clean my hands with soap,
31 你還要扔我在坑裏， 我的衣服都憎惡我。
you would toss me into a slime pit so that even my own clothes would hate 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 God is not a mortal being like me, I can't defend myself or take him to court.
33 我們中間沒有聽訟的人 可以向我們兩造按手。
If only there was an arbitrator who could bring us both together!
34 願他把杖離開我， 不使驚惶威嚇我。
I wish God would stop beating me with his rod and terrifying me!
35 我就說話，也不懼怕他， 現在我卻不是那樣。
Then I could speak up without being afraid—but since I am, I can't!”
