Job 23

1 And Job made answer and said,

約伯回答說：

2 Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.

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 had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even 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 put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.

好將我的案情向他陳訴，因為我口中滿了證詞!

5 I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

唯願我知道他答覆我的話，明瞭他向我說什麼!

6 Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.

他豈能靠強力同我爭辯﹖決不，他必留神聽我。

7 There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever 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 See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him;

可是我往東行，他不在那裏；我往西行，也找不到他；

9 I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.

往北找，也看不見他；往南去，也見不到他。

10 For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like 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 gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.

我的腳緊隨著他的足跡，謹守他的道，總沒有偏離。

12 I have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.

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 his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.

但他所決定的，誰能變更﹖他所樂意的，必要實行。

14 For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.

他為我注定的，必要完成；類似的事，還有很多。

15 For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.

因此，為了他，我很驚慌，一想起來就害怕。

16 For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.

天主使我的心沮喪，全能者使我恐怖。

17 For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.

因為我雖面臨黑暗，幽暗雖遮蓋我的面，我仍不喪氣。