< Job 38 >

1 And after Elius had ceased from speaking, the Lord spoke to Job through the whirlwind and clouds, [saying],
那時,耶和華從旋風中回答約伯說:
2 Who is this that hides counsel from me, and confines words in [his] heart, and thinks to conceal [them] from me?
誰用無知的言語使我的旨意暗昧不明?
3 Gird your loins like a man; and I will ask you, and do you answer me.
你要如勇士束腰; 我問你,你可以指示我。
4 Where was you when I founded the earth? tell me now, if you have knowledge,
我立大地根基的時候,你在哪裏呢? 你若有聰明,只管說吧!
5 who set the measures of it, if you know? or who stretched a line upon it?
你若曉得就說,是誰定地的尺度? 是誰把準繩拉在其上?
6 On what are its rings fastened? and who is he that laid the corner-stone upon it?
地的根基安置在何處? 地的角石是誰安放的?
7 When the stars were made, all my angels praised me with a loud voice.
那時,晨星一同歌唱; 上帝的眾子也都歡呼。
8 And I shut up the sea with gates, when it rushed out, coming forth out its mother's womb.
海水衝出,如出胎胞, 那時誰將它關閉呢?
9 And I made a cloud its clothing, and swathed it in mist.
是我用雲彩當海的衣服, 用幽暗當包裹它的布,
10 And I set bounds to it, surrounding it with bars and gates.
為它定界限, 又安門和閂,
11 And I said to it, Hitherto shall you come, but you shall not go beyond, but your waves shall be confined within you.
說:你只可到這裏,不可越過; 你狂傲的浪要到此止住。
12 Or did I order the morning light in your time; and [did] the morning star [then first] see his appointed place;
你自生以來,曾命定晨光, 使清晨的日光知道本位,
13 to lay hold of the extremities of the earth, to cast out the ungodly out of it?
叫這光普照地的四極, 將惡人從其中驅逐出來嗎?
14 Or did you take clay of the ground, and form a living creature, and set it with the power of speech upon the earth?
因這光,地面改變如泥上印印, 萬物出現如衣服一樣。
15 And have you removed light from the ungodly, and crushed the arm of the proud?
亮光不照惡人; 強橫的膀臂也必折斷。
16 Or have you gone to the source of the sea, and walked in the tracks of the deep?
你曾進到海源, 或在深淵的隱密處行走嗎?
17 And do the gates of death open to you for fear; and did the porters of hell quake when they saw you? (questioned)
死亡的門曾向你顯露嗎? 死蔭的門你曾見過嗎?
18 And have you been instructed in the breadth of the [whole earth] under heaven? tell me now, what is the extent of it?
地的廣大你能明透嗎? 你若全知道,只管說吧!
19 And in what kind of a land does the light dwell? and of what kind is the place of darkness?
光明的居所從何而至? 黑暗的本位在於何處?
20 If you could bring me to their [utmost] boundaries, and if also you know their paths;
你能帶到本境, 能看明其室之路嗎?
21 I know then that you were born at that time, and the number of your years is great.
你總知道, 因為你早已生在世上, 你日子的數目也多。
22 But have you gone to the treasures of snow? and have you seen the treasures of hail?
你曾進入雪庫, 或見過雹倉嗎?
23 And is there a store [of them], for you against the time of [your] enemies, for the day of wars and battle?
這雪雹乃是我為降災, 並打仗和爭戰的日子所預備的。
24 And whence proceeds the frost? or [whence] is the south wind dispersed over the [whole world] under heaven?
光亮從何路分開? 東風從何路分散遍地?
25 And who prepared a course for the violent rain, and a way for the thunders;
誰為雨水分道? 誰為雷電開路?
26 to rain upon the land where [there is] no man, the wilderness, where there is not a man in it; so as to feed the untrodden and uninhabited [land],
使雨降在無人之地、 無人居住的曠野?
27 and cause it to send forth a crop of green herbs?
使荒廢淒涼之地得以豐足, 青草得以發生?
28 Who is the rain's father? and who has generated the drops of dew?
雨有父嗎? 露水珠是誰生的呢?
29 And out of whose womb comes the ice? and who has produced the frost in the sky,
冰出於誰的胎? 天上的霜是誰生的呢?
30 which descends like flowing water? who has terrified the face of the ungodly?
諸水堅硬如石頭; 深淵之面凝結成冰。
31 And do you understand the band of Pleias, and have you opened the barrier of Orion?
你能繫住昴星的結嗎? 能解開參星的帶嗎?
32 Or will you reveal Mazuroth in his season, and the evening star with his rays? Will you guide them?
你能按時領出十二宮嗎? 能引導北斗和隨它的眾星嗎?
33 And know you the changes of heaven, or the events which take place together under heaven?
你知道天的定例嗎? 能使地歸在天的權下嗎?
34 And will you call a cloud with your voice, and will it obey you with a violent shower of much rain?
你能向雲彩揚起聲來, 使傾盆的雨遮蓋你嗎?
35 And will you send lightnings, and they shall go? and shall they say to you, What is [your pleasure]?
你能發出閃電,叫它行去, 使它對你說:我們在這裏?
36 And who has given to women skill in weaving, or knowledge of embroidery?
誰將智慧放在懷中? 誰將聰明賜於心內?
37 And who is he that numbers the clouds in wisdom, and has bowed the heaven [down] to the earth?
誰能用智慧數算雲彩呢? 塵土聚集成團,土塊緊緊結連; 那時,誰能傾倒天上的瓶呢?
38 For it is spread out as dusty earth, and I have cemented it as one hewn stone to another.
39 And will you hunt a prey for the lions? and satisfy the desires of the serpents?
母獅子在洞中蹲伏, 少壯獅子在隱密處埋伏; 你能為牠們抓取食物, 使牠們飽足嗎?
40 For they fear in their lairs, and lying in wait couch in the woods.
41 And who has prepared food for the raven? for its young ones wander and cry to the Lord, in search of food.
烏鴉之雛因無食物飛來飛去,哀告上帝; 那時,誰為牠預備食物呢?

< Job 38 >