Job 12
1 And Job made answer and said,
そこでヨブは答えて言った、
2 No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.
「まことに、あなたがたのみ、人である、知恵はあなたがたと共に死ぬであろう。
3 But I have a mind as well as you; I am equal to you: yes, who has not knowledge of such things as these?
しかしわたしも、あなたがたと同様に悟りをもつ。わたしはあなたがたに劣らない。だれがこのような事を知らないだろうか。
4 It seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!
わたしは神に呼ばわって、聞かれた者であるのに、その友の物笑いとなっている。正しく全き人は物笑いとなる。
5 In the thought of him who is in comfort there is no respect for one who is in trouble; such is the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
安らかな者の思いには、不幸な者に対する侮りがあって、足のすべる者を待っている。
6 There is wealth in the tents of those who make destruction, and those by whom God is moved to wrath are safe; even those whose god is their strength.
かすめ奪う者の天幕は栄え、神を怒らす者は安らかである。自分の手に神を携えている者も同様だ。
7 But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them; or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you;
しかし獣に問うてみよ、それはあなたに教える。空の鳥に問うてみよ、それはあなたに告げる。
8 Or to the things which go flat on the earth, and they will give you wisdom; and the fishes of the sea will give you news of it.
あるいは地の草や木に問うてみよ、彼らはあなたに教える。海の魚もまたあなたに示す。
9 Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?
これらすべてのもののうち、いずれか主の手がこれをなしたことを知らぬ者があろうか。
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh of man.
すべての生き物の命、およびすべての人の息は彼の手のうちにある。
11 Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?
口が食物を味わうように、耳は言葉をわきまえないであろうか。
12 Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.
老いた者には知恵があり、命の長い者には悟りがある。
13 With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.
知恵と力は神と共にあり、深慮と悟りも彼のものである。
14 Truly, there is no building up of what is pulled down by him; when a man is shut up by him, no one may let him loose.
彼が破壊すれば、再び建てることができない。彼が人を閉じ込めれば、開き出すことができない。
15 Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.
彼が水を止めれば、それはかれ、彼が水を出せば、地をくつがえす。
16 With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;
力と深き知恵は彼と共にあり、惑わされる者も惑わす者も彼のものである。
17 He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;
彼は議士たちを裸にして連れ行き、さばきびとらを愚かにし、
18 He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;
王たちのきずなを解き、彼らの腰に腰帯を巻き、
19 He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;
祭司たちを裸にして連れ行き、力ある者を滅ぼし、
20 He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;
みずから頼む者たちの言葉を奪い、長老たちの分別を取り去り、
21 He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;
君たちの上に侮りを注ぎ、強い者たちの帯を解き、
22 Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;
暗やみの中から隠れた事どもをあらわし、暗黒を光に引き出し、
23 Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.
国々を大きくし、またこれを滅ぼし、国々を広くし、また捕え行き、
24 He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.
地の民の長たちの悟りを奪い、彼らを道なき荒野にさまよわせ、
25 They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.
光なき暗やみに手探りさせ、酔うた者のようによろめかせる。
