Job 33

1 And now, O Job, give ear to my words, and take note of all I say.

約伯，請你且聽我的話，側耳靜聽我說的一切。

2 See, now my mouth is open, my tongue gives out words.

請看，我已開口，舌頭已在口腔內發言。

3 My heart is overflowing with knowledge, my lips say what is true.

我的話是出於正直的心，我的唇舌要清楚說明真理。

4 The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Ruler of all gives me life.

天主的神造了我，全能者的氣息使我生活。

5 If you are able, give me an answer; put your cause in order, and come forward.

你如果能夠，就回答我，請準備好，來對抗我。

6 See, I am the same as you are in the eyes of God; I was cut off from the same bit of wet earth.

看，我與你在天主前都是一樣，我也是用泥土造成的。

7 Fear of me will not overcome you, and my hand will not be hard on you.

所以我的威嚇不會使你恐怖，我的手也不會重壓在你身上。

8 But you said in my hearing, and your voice came to my ears:

你所說的，我已耳聞，聽到了你所說的話：「

9 I am clean, without sin; I am washed, and there is no evil in me:

我本純潔無罪，清白無瑕。

10 See, he is looking for something against me; in his eyes I am as one of his haters;

但天主卻在我身上找錯，視我為他的對頭；

11 He puts chains on my feet; he is watching all my ways.

他把我的腳縛在木樁上，窺察我的一切行動。」

12 Truly, in saying this you are wrong; for God is greater than man.

我答覆你說：你這話說的不對，因為天主遠超世人。

13 Why do you put forward your cause against him, saying, He gives no answer to any of my words?

他既不答覆你說的一切話，你為何還同他爭辯﹖

14 For God gives his word in one way, even in two, and man is not conscious of it:

原來天主用一種方法向人講話，人若不理會，他再用另一種方法：

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep comes on men, while they take their rest on their beds;

天主有時藉夢和夜間的異像，當人躺在床上沉睡的時候，

16 Then he makes his secrets clear to men, so that they are full of fear at what they see;

開啟人的聽覺，用異像驚嚇他，

17 In order that man may be turned from his evil works, and that pride may be taken away from him;

使人脫離惡念，使人剷除驕傲，

18 To keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.

阻攔他陷於陰府，救他的性命脫離溝壑。

19 Pain is sent on him as a punishment, while he is on his bed; there is no end to the trouble in his bones;

天主也有時懲罰人在床上受痛苦，使他的骨頭不斷的刺痛，

20 He has no desire for food, and his soul is turned away from delicate meat;

以致他討厭食物，他的心厭惡美味。

21 His flesh is so wasted away, that it may not be seen, and his bones. ...

他身上的肉已消逝不見，他枯瘦的骨頭，已開始外露。

22 And his soul comes near to the underworld, and his life to the angels of death.

他的靈魂已臨近墓穴，他的生命已接近死亡之所。

23 If now there may be an angel sent to him, one of the thousands which there are to be between him and God, and to make clear to man what is right for him;

一千天使中，若有一個在他身傍，作他的代言人，提醒他應行的義務，

24 And if he has mercy on him, and says, Let him not go down to the underworld, I have given the price for his life:

且憐憫那人，為他轉求說：「求你拯救他，以免陷於陰府，因為我已找到了贖金。」

25 Then his flesh becomes young again, and he comes back to the days of his early strength;

他的肉身比少年人的肉身必更健美，他的青春歲月又恢復了。

26 He makes his prayer to God, and he has mercy on him; he sees God's face with cries of joy; he gives news of his righteousness to men;

他祈求天主，必獲得悅納。他必歡樂得見天主的儀容，天主也必恢復他的正義。

27 He makes a song, saying, I did wrong, turning from the straight way, but he did not give me the reward of my sin.

那時，他將在人前重述所經歷的事說：「我犯了罪，顛倒了是非，但他沒有照我的罪罰我。

28 He kept my soul from the underworld, and my life sees the light in full measure.

他救了我生命免入陰府，使我重見光明。」

29 Truly, God does all these things to man, twice and three times,

這就是天主接二連三為人所做的事，

30 Keeping back his soul from the underworld, so that he may see the light of life.

挽救他脫離陰府，重見生命之光。

31 Take note O Job, give ear to me; keep quiet, while I say what is in my mind.

約伯啊! 請留神傾聽，靜靜地聽我說話!

32 If you have anything to say, give me an answer; for it is my desire that you may be judged free from sin.

你若有話說，請即回覆我，你儘管說，因為我願聽你的理。

33 If not, give attention to me, and keep quiet, and I will give you wisdom.

若沒有話，且聽我說，靜聽我要教給你的智慧。