Job 12
1 And Job answereth and saith: —
約伯回答說：
2 Truly — ye [are] the people, And with you doth wisdom die.
的確，只有你們是有知識的子民；那麼，你們一死，智慧也與你們一同喪亡!
3 I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?
其實，我和你們有同樣的心理，我並不亞於你們! 誰不知道這些事﹖
4 A laughter to his friend I am: 'He calleth to God, and He answereth him,' A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.
我這呼籲天主而蒙應允的人，卻被他的友人所嘲笑，無辜的義人卻成了笑柄。
5 A torch — despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.
幸運的人心想：遭難的人應受蔑視，失足的人應再予以打擊。
6 At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.
但是，強盜的帳幕竟能安全，觸怒天主的人，以勢力為神的人卻享平安。
7 And yet, ask, I pray thee, [One of] the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.
請你詢問走獸，牠們也會開導你；詢問天上的飛鳥，牠們也會告訴你；
8 Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:
地上的爬蟲也會教訓你，海中的魚族也會給你說明。
9 'Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?
牠們中有誰不知道：是天主的手創造了這一切﹖
10 In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.'
因為一切活物的生魂，一切血肉之人的靈魂，都握在他手中。
11 Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?
耳朵不是為明辨言語，口腔不是為辨嘗食物嗎﹖
12 With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days understanding.
白髮老人是有智慧的，年紀大者是有見識的；
13 With Him [are] wisdom and might, To him [are] counsel and understanding.
但智慧和能力同在天主內，智慧與見識是天主所有。
14 Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth against a man, And it is not opened.
他若拆毀，人不能再建；他若拘禁，人不得開釋。
15 Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.
他若制水，水便乾涸；他若放水，水便沖毀大地。
16 With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.
力量與才能，為他所有；受騙者與騙人者，都屬於他。
17 Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.
他使謀士糊塗，使判官愚蠢；
18 The bands of kings He hath opened, And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.
他解除君王所繫的玉帶，將繩索捆在他們的腰間；
19 Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.
他使司祭赤足而行，推倒掌握大權者；
20 Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.
奪去忠貞者的辯才，剝去年老者的理智：
21 Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.
使貴人備受侮辱，使勇士的腰帶鬆弛；
22 Removing deep things out of darkness, And He bringeth out to light death-shade.
使隱秘的事由暗處彰顯，使黑暗進入光明；
23 Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.
使邦國興起而又滅亡，使民族強大而又消散；
24 Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy — no way!
剝去國君的理智，使他們漂泊於無路的荒野中，
25 They feel darkness, and not light, He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.
在無光的黑暗中摸索，踉蹌猶如醉漢。
