< Job 24 >
1 The times are not hidden from the Almighty; even those who know him, do not know his days.
なにゆえ、全能者はさばきの時を定めておかれないのか。なにゆえ、彼を知る者がその日を見ないのか。
2 Some have crossed the boundaries, plundered the flocks, and given them pasture.
世には地境を移す者、群れを奪ってそれを飼う者、
3 They have driven away the donkey of orphans, and have taken the cow from the widow as collateral.
みなしごのろばを追いやる者、やもめの牛を質に取る者、
4 They have undermined the way of the poor, and have pressed together the meek of the earth.
貧しい者を道から押しのける者がある。世の弱い者は皆彼らをさけて身をかくす。
5 Others, like wild asses in the desert, go forth to their work; by watching for prey, they obtain bread for their children.
見よ、彼らは荒野におる野ろばのように出て働き、野で獲物を求めて、その子らの食物とする。
6 They reap a field that is not their own, and they harvest a vineyard that they have taken by force.
彼らは畑でそのまぐさを刈り、また悪人のぶどう畑で拾い集める。
7 They send men away naked, having taken the clothing of those who have no covering in the cold;
彼らは着る物がなく、裸で夜を過ごし、寒さに身をおおうべき物もない。
8 these are wet with the mountain rain, and, having no covering, they embrace the rocks.
彼らは山の雨にぬれ、しのぎ場もなく岩にすがる。
9 They have used violence to deprive orphans, and they have robbed the poor common people.
(みなしごをその母のふところから奪い、貧しい者の幼な子を質にとる者がある。)
10 From the naked and those who do not have enough clothing, and from the hungry, they have taken away sheaves of grain.
彼らは着る物がなく、裸で歩き、飢えつつ麦束を運び、
11 They take their midday rest among the stockpiles of those who, though they have trodden the winepresses, suffer thirst.
悪人のオリブ並み木の中で油をしぼり、酒ぶねを踏んでも、かわきを覚える。
12 In the cities, they caused the men to groan and the spirit of the wounded to cry out, and so God does not allow this to go unpunished.
町の中から死のうめきが起り、傷ついた者の魂が助けを呼び求める。しかし神は彼らの祈を顧みられない。
13 They have been rebellious against the light; they have not known his ways, nor have they returned by his paths.
光にそむく者たちがある。彼らは光の道を知らず、光の道にとどまらない。
14 The killer of men rises at first light; he executes the destitute and the poor, but, in truth, he is like a thief in the night.
人を殺す者は暗いうちに起き出て弱い者と貧しい者を殺し、夜は盗びととなる。
15 The eye of the adulterer waits for darkness, saying, “No eye will see me,” and he covers his face.
姦淫する者の目はたそがれを待って、『だれもわたしを見ていないだろう』と言い、顔におおう物を当てる。
16 He passes through houses in the nighttime, just as they had agreed among themselves in the daytime; and they are ignorant of the light.
彼らは暗やみで家をうがち、昼は閉じこもって光を知らない。
17 If sunrise should suddenly appear, it is treated by them like the shadow of death; and they walk in darkness, as if in light.
彼らには暗黒は朝である。彼らは暗黒の恐れを友とするからだ。
18 He is nimble on the surface of water. His place on land is to be accursed. May he not walk by way of the vineyards.
あなたがたは言う、『彼らは水のおもてにすみやかに流れ去り、その受ける分は地でのろわれ、酒ぶねを踏む者はだれも彼らのぶどう畑の道に行かない。
19 May he cross from the snowy waters to excessive heat, and his sin, all the way to hell. (Sheol )
ひでりと熱さは雪水を奪い去る、陰府が罪を犯した者に対するも、これと同様だ。 (Sheol )
20 Let mercy forget him. His charm is worms. Let him not be remembered, but instead be broken like an unfruitful tree.
町の広場は彼らを忘れ、彼らの名は覚えられることなく、不義は木の折られるように折られる』と。
21 For he has fed on the barren, who does not bear fruit, and he has not done good to the widow.
彼らは子を産まぬうまずめをくらい、やもめをあわれむことをしない。
22 He has pulled down the strong by his strength, and, when he stands up, he will not have trust in his life.
しかし神はその力をもって、強い人々を生きながらえさせられる。彼らは生きる望みのない時にも起きあがる。
23 God has given him a place for repentance, and he abuses it with arrogance, but his eyes are upon his ways.
神が彼らに安全を与えられるので、彼らは安らかである。神の目は彼らの道の上にある。
24 They are lifted up for a little while, but they will not continue, and they will be brought low, just like all things, and they will be taken away, and, like the tops of the ears of grain, they will be crushed.
彼らはしばし高められて、いなくなり、ぜにあおいのように枯れて消えうせ、麦の穂先のように切り取られる。
25 But, if this is not so, who is able to prove to me that I have lied and to place my words before God?
もし、そうでないなら、だれがわたしにその偽りを証明し、わが言葉のむなしいことを示しうるだろうか」。