Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said,
約伯答覆說：
2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
我確實知道事情是這樣，但人怎能同天主講理﹖
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
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 mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and has prospered?
雖心中明智，力量強大，但誰能對抗天主，而保平安﹖
5 Which removes the mountains, and they know not: which overturns them in his anger.
他可移山，山卻不知；他一發怒，山即翻轉；
6 Which shakes the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
他振搖大地，使之脫離原處，地柱隨之搖撼震動；
7 Which commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars.
他一下令，太陽即不昇起，星辰即封閉不動；
8 Which alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
惟有他展開天空，步行海波之上；
9 Which makes Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
他創造了北斗和參宿，昂星及南極星辰；
10 Which does great things past finding out; yes, and wonders without number.
他所作的大事，不可勝數。
11 See, he goes by me, and I see him not: he passes on also, but I perceive him not.
他由我身旁經過，我卻沒有看見；他走過去，我仍沒有發覺。
12 Behold, he takes away, who can hinder him? who will say to him, What do you?
他若搶奪，誰能阻擋﹖誰能問他說：「你作什麼﹖」
13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop 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 shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
如此我怎敢回答，我怎敢措辭與他抗辯﹖
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
縱然有理，也不敢回答，唯有哀求我的判官開恩。
16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had listened 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 he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
他為了一根頭髮而折磨我，無故增加我的創傷；
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
致使我不能喘一口氣，使我飽嘗苦辛。
19 If I speak of strength, see, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
論力量，他強而有力；論審判，誰能將他傳來﹖
20 If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
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 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
我是無辜的，我已不顧及我的生命，我已厭惡生活下去。
22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroys the perfect and the wicked.
因此我說：都是一樣。善人惡人，他一概滅絕。
23 If the whip slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
若天災突然降下使人猝死，他便嘲笑無罪者的絕望。
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covers the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
大地落在惡人的手裏，蒙蔽判官臉面的，不是他，是誰呢﹖
25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, 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 are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hastens to the prey.
急急駛過，似蘆葦船，如驟降攫食的鷹。
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
我若決意忘掉我的哀怨，改變愁容，表示愉快；
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.
但一想到我的痛苦，我就恐怖。我知道你決不以我為無辜。
29 If I be wicked, why then labor I in vain?
我若是有罪，又何苦白費心血﹖
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
我即便用雪洗我身，用鹹水洗我手，
31 Yet shall you plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.
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 should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
因為他不像我是個人，使我能答覆他，或讓我們同去聽審。
33 Neither is there any judge between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
在我們中間沒有仲裁，可按手在我們兩造之間。
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
但願他的棍杖遠離我，他的威嚴不要恐嚇我，
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
我好能講話而不害怕；但是如今我並非如此。
