Job 23

1 And Job answered and said,

約伯回答說：

2 Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

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 Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come 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 order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;

好將我的案情向他陳訴，因為我口中滿了證詞!

5 I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

唯願我知道他答覆我的話，明瞭他向我說什麼!

6 Would he plead against me with [his] great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

他豈能靠強力同我爭辯﹖決不，他必留神聽我。

7 There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered 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 Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;

可是我往東行，他不在那裏；我往西行，也找不到他；

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold [him] not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see [him] not.

往北找，也看不見他；往南去，也見不到他。

10 But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

他洞悉我所有的行動。他若試驗我，我必如純金出現。

11 My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.

我的腳緊隨著他的足跡，謹守他的道，總沒有偏離。

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own 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 he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.

但他所決定的，誰能變更﹖他所樂意的，必要實行。

14 For he will perform [what] is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.

他為我注定的，必要完成；類似的事，還有很多。

15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.

因此，為了他，我很驚慌，一想起來就害怕。

16 For God hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;

天主使我的心沮喪，全能者使我恐怖。

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.

因為我雖面臨黑暗，幽暗雖遮蓋我的面，我仍不喪氣。