Job 9
1 Then responded Job, and said—
約伯答覆說：
2 Of a truth, I know that so it is, But how can a mortal 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 choose to 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 Wise in heart, and alert in vigour, What man hath hardened himself against him, and prospered!
雖心中明智，力量強大，但誰能對抗天主，而保平安﹖
5 Who removeth mountains, unawares, Who overturneth them in his anger;
他可移山，山卻不知；他一發怒，山即翻轉；
6 Who shaketh the earth, out of its place, and, the pillars thereof, shudder;
他振搖大地，使之脫離原處，地柱隨之搖撼震動；
7 Who commandeth the sun, and it breaketh not forth, and, about the stars, he putteth a seal;
他一下令，太陽即不昇起，星辰即封閉不動；
8 Who spreadeth out fire heavens, by himself alone! and marcheth along, on the heights of the sea;
惟有他展開天空，步行海波之上；
9 Who made the Bear, the Giant and the Cluster, and the chambers of the south;
他創造了北斗和參宿，昂星及南極星辰；
10 Who doeth great things, past finding out, and marvels, beyond number.
他所作的大事，不可勝數。
11 Lo! he cometh upon me, yet can I not see him, Yea he passeth on, yet can I not discern 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 Lo! he snatcheth away, who can bring it back? Who shall say unto him, What wouldst thou do?
他若搶奪，誰能阻擋﹖誰能問他說：「你作什麼﹖」
13 As for GOD, if he withdraw not his anger, under him, will have submitted themselves—the proud helpers.
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 that, I, should answer him, should choose my words 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, to be absolved, I would make supplication.
縱然有理，也不敢回答，唯有哀求我的判官開恩。
16 Though I had called, and he had answered me, I could not believe, that he would lend an 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, with a tempest, would he fall upon me, and would multiply my wounds without need;
他為了一根頭髮而折磨我，無故增加我的創傷；
18 He would not suffer me to recover my breath, for he would surfeit me with bitter things.
致使我不能喘一口氣，使我飽嘗苦辛。
19 If it regardeth vigour, bold is he! If justice, who could summon him?
論力量，他強而有力；論審判，誰能將他傳來﹖
20 If I should justify myself, mine own mouth, would condemn me, —I blameless? then had it shewn 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 I blameless? I should not know my own soul, I should despise my own life!
我是無辜的，我已不顧及我的生命，我已厭惡生活下去。
22 One thing, there is, for which cause, I have said it, The blameless and the lawless, he bringeth to an end.
因此我說：都是一樣。善人惡人，他一概滅絕。
23 If, a scourge, slay suddenly, at the despair of innocent ones, he mocketh.
若天災突然降下使人猝死，他便嘲笑無罪者的絕望。
24 The earth, hath been given into the hand of a lawless one, The faces of her judges, he covereth, If not, then who is 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, therefore, are swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have seen 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 have passed away with boats of paper-reed, like a vulture [which] rusheth upon food.
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 lay aside my sad countenance, and brighten up,
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 pains, I know, that thou wilt not pronounce 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 I, shall be held guilty, —Wherefore then, in vain, should I toil?
我若是有罪，又何苦白費心血﹖
30 Though I bathe myself in snow water, and cleanse, in cleanness itself, my hands,
我即便用雪洗我身，用鹹水洗我手，
31 Then, in a ditch, wouldst thou plunge me, and mine own clothes should 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 like myself, whom I might answer, nor could we come together into 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 There is not, between us, a mediator, who might lay his hand upon 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 from off me his rod, and, his terror, let it not startle me:
但願他的棍杖遠離我，他的威嚴不要恐嚇我，
35 I could speak, and not be afraid of him, although, not so, am, I, in myself!
我好能講話而不害怕；但是如今我並非如此。
