Job 23

1 Then Job answered:

約伯回答說：

2 “Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

直到今天，我還是痛苦的哀訴，他沉重的手掌，使我不得不呻吟。

3 If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.

惟願我知道怎樣能尋到天主，能達到他的寶座前，

4 I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

好將我的案情向他陳訴，因為我口中滿了證詞!

5 I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

唯願我知道他答覆我的話，明瞭他向我說什麼!

6 Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

他豈能靠強力同我爭辯﹖決不，他必留神聽我。

7 Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

如此，他會分辨出同他爭論的是個正直人，也許我可永久不再受裁判!

8 If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

可是我往東行，他不在那裏；我往西行，也找不到他；

9 When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

往北找，也看不見他；往南去，也見不到他。

10 Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

他洞悉我所有的行動。他若試驗我，我必如純金出現。

11 My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

我的腳緊隨著他的足跡，謹守他的道，總沒有偏離。

12 I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

他所發的命令，我總沒有違背；他口中的訓言，我常保存在心中。

13 But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

但他所決定的，誰能變更﹖他所樂意的，必要實行。

14 For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

他為我注定的，必要完成；類似的事，還有很多。

15 Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.

因此，為了他，我很驚慌，一想起來就害怕。

16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

天主使我的心沮喪，全能者使我恐怖。

17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.

因為我雖面臨黑暗，幽暗雖遮蓋我的面，我仍不喪氣。