Job 21
1 Then Job answered,
約伯回答說：
2 “Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
你們要細聽我的言語， 就算是你們安慰我。
3 Allow me, and I also will speak. After I have spoken, mock on.
請寬容我，我又要說話； 說了以後，任憑你們嗤笑吧！
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
我豈是向人訴冤？ 為何不焦急呢？
5 Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
你們要看着我而驚奇， 用手摀口。
6 When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
我每逢思想，心就驚惶， 渾身戰兢。
7 “Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
惡人為何存活， 享大壽數，勢力強盛呢？
8 Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
他們眼見兒孫， 和他們一同堅立。
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
他們的家宅平安無懼； 上帝的杖也不加在他們身上。
10 Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.
他們的公牛孳生而不斷絕； 母牛下犢而不掉胎。
11 They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
他們打發小孩子出去，多如羊群； 他們的兒女踴躍跳舞。
12 They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
他們隨着琴鼓歌唱， 又因簫聲歡喜。
他們度日諸事亨通， 轉眼下入陰間。 (Sheol h7585)
14 They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.
他們對上帝說：離開我們吧！ 我們不願曉得你的道。
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
全能者是誰，我們何必事奉他呢？ 求告他有甚麼益處呢？
16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
看哪，他們亨通不在乎自己； 惡人所謀定的離我好遠。
17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?
惡人的燈何嘗熄滅？ 患難何嘗臨到他們呢？ 上帝何嘗發怒，向他們分散災禍呢？
18 How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
他們何嘗像風前的碎稭， 如暴風颳去的糠詷呢？
19 You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
你們說：上帝為惡人的兒女積蓄罪孽； 我說：不如本人受報，好使他親自知道。
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
願他親眼看見自己敗亡， 親自飲全能者的忿怒。
21 For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
他的歲月既盡， 他還顧他本家嗎？
22 “Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
上帝既審判那在高位的， 誰能將知識教訓他呢？
23 One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
有人至死身體強壯， 盡得平靖安逸；
24 His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
他的奶桶充滿， 他的骨髓滋潤。
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
有人至死心中痛苦， 終身未嘗福樂的滋味；
26 They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
他們一樣躺臥在塵土中， 都被蟲子遮蓋。
27 “Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.
我知道你們的意思， 並誣害我的計謀。
28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
你們說：霸者的房屋在哪裏？ 惡人住過的帳棚在哪裏？
29 Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,
你們豈沒有詢問過路的人嗎？ 不知道他們所引的證據嗎？
30 that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led out to the day of wrath?
就是惡人在禍患的日子得存留， 在發怒的日子得逃脫。
31 Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?
他所行的，有誰當面給他說明？ 他所做的，有誰報應他呢？
32 Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men will keep watch over the tomb.
然而他要被抬到塋地； 並有人看守墳墓。
33 The clods of the valley will be sweet to him. All men will draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
他要以谷中的土塊為甘甜； 在他以先去的無數， 在他以後去的更多。
34 So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
你們對答的話中既都錯謬， 怎麼徒然安慰我呢？
