< Job 9 >

1 And Job made answer and said,
約伯答覆說:
2 Truly, I see that it is so: and how is it possible for a man to get his right before God?
我確實知道事情是這樣,但人怎能同天主講理﹖
3 If a man was desiring to go to law with him, he would not be able to give him an answer to one out of a thousand questions.
人若願意同天主辯論,千個問題中,誰也回答不出一個。
4 He is wise in heart and great in strength: who ever made his face hard against him, and any good came of it?
雖心中明智,力量強大,但誰能對抗天主,而保平安﹖
5 It is he who takes away the mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his wrath:
他可移山,山卻不知;他一發怒,山即翻轉;
6 Who is moving the earth out of its place, so that its pillars are shaking:
他振搖大地,使之脫離原處,地柱隨之搖撼震動;
7 Who gives orders to the sun, and it does not give its light; and who keeps the stars from shining.
他一下令,太陽即不昇起,星辰即封閉不動;
8 By whose hand the heavens were stretched out, and who is walking on the waves of the sea:
惟有他展開天空,步行海波之上;
9 Who made the Bear and Orion, and the Pleiades, and the store-houses of the south:
他創造了北斗和參宿,昂星及南極星辰;
10 Who does great things not to be searched out; yes, wonders without number.
他所作的大事,不可勝數。
11 See, he goes past me and I see him not: he goes on before, but I have no knowledge of him.
他由我身旁經過,我卻沒有看見;他走過去,我仍沒有發覺。
12 If he puts out his hand to take, by whom may it be turned back? who may say to him, What are you doing?
他若搶奪,誰能阻擋﹖誰能問他說:「你作什麼﹖」
13 God's wrath may not be turned back; the helpers of Rahab were bent down under him.
天主一憤怒,決不收回。為虎作倀的,必屈伏在他以下。
14 How much less may I give an answer to him, using the right words in argument with him?
如此我怎敢回答,我怎敢措辭與他抗辯﹖
15 Even if my cause was good, I would not be able to give an answer; I would make request for grace from him who was against me.
縱然有理,也不敢回答,唯有哀求我的判官開恩。
16 If I had sent for him to be present, and he had come, I would have no faith that he would give ear to my voice.
我向他呼求,縱然他答應我,我仍不相信他會聽我的呼聲。
17 For I would be crushed by his storm, my wounds would be increased without cause.
他為了一根頭髮而折磨我,無故增加我的創傷;
18 He would not let me take my breath, but I would be full of bitter grief.
致使我不能喘一口氣,使我飽嘗苦辛。
19 If it is a question of strength, he says, Here I am! and if it is a question of a cause at law, he says, Who will give me a fixed day?
論力量,他強而有力;論審判,誰能將他傳來﹖
20 Though I was in the right, he would say that I was in the wrong; I have done no evil; but he says that I am a sinner.
我雖自以為正義,他的口卻判定我有罪;我雖自覺無辜,他卻證明我有偏差。
21 I have done no wrong; I give no thought to what becomes of me; I have no desire for life.
我是無辜的,我已不顧及我的生命,我已厭惡生活下去。
22 It is all the same to me; so I say, He puts an end to the sinner and to him who has done no wrong together.
因此我說:都是一樣。善人惡人,他一概滅絕。
23 If death comes suddenly through disease, he makes sport of the fate of those who have done no wrong.
若天災突然降下使人猝死,他便嘲笑無罪者的絕望。
24 The land is given into the power of the evil-doer; the faces of its judges are covered; if not by him, then who has done it?
大地落在惡人的手裏,蒙蔽判官臉面的,不是他,是誰呢﹖
25 My days go quicker than a post-runner: they go in flight, they see no good.
我的日月過去比跑信的還快;疾走而過,無福樂可享。
26 They go rushing on like reed-boats, like an eagle dropping suddenly on its food.
急急駛過,似蘆葦船,如驟降攫食的鷹。
27 If I say, I will put my grief out of mind, I will let my face be sad no longer and I will be bright;
我若決意忘掉我的哀怨,改變愁容,表示愉快;
28 I go in fear of all my pains; I am certain that I will not be free from sin in your eyes.
但一想到我的痛苦,我就恐怖。我知道你決不以我為無辜。
29 You will not let me be clear of sin! why then do I take trouble for nothing?
我若是有罪,又何苦白費心血﹖
30 If I am washed with snow water, and make my hands clean with soap;
我即便用雪洗我身,用鹹水洗我手,
31 Then you will have me pushed into the dust, so that I will seem disgusting to my very clothing.
你卻把我浸在泥坑內,甚至我的衣服都憎惡我。
32 For he is not a man as I am, that I might give him an answer, that we might come together before a judge.
因為他不像我是個人,使我能答覆他,或讓我們同去聽審。
33 There is no one to give a decision between us, who might have control over us.
在我們中間沒有仲裁,可按手在我們兩造之間。
34 Let him take away his rod from me and not send his fear on me:
但願他的棍杖遠離我,他的威嚴不要恐嚇我,
35 Then I would say what is in my mind without fear of him; for there is no cause of fear in myself.
我好能講話而不害怕;但是如今我並非如此。

< Job 9 >