1 約伯回答說、
Then Job replied: |
2 你們要細聽我的言語、就算是你們安慰我。
"Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me. |
3 請寬容我、我又要說話.說了以後、任憑你們嗤笑罷。
Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on. |
4 我豈是向人訴冤、為何不焦急呢。
"Is my complaint directed to man? Why should I not be impatient? |
5 你們要看著我而驚奇、用手摀口。
Look at me and be astonished; clap your hand over your mouth. |
6 我每逢思想、心就驚惶、渾身戰兢。
When I think about this, I am terrified; trembling seizes my body. |
7 惡人為何存活、享大壽數、勢力強盛呢。
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? |
8 他們眼見兒孫、和他們一同堅立。
They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes. |
9 他們的家宅平安無懼、 神的杖也不加在他們身上。
Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not upon them. |
10 他們的公牛孳生而不斷絕.母牛下犢而不掉胎。
Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry. |
11 他們打發小孩子出去、多如羊群.他們的兒女踊躍跳舞。
They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about. |
12 他們隨著琴鼓歌唱、又因簫聲歡喜。
They sing to the music of tambourine and harp; they make merry to the sound of the flute. |
13 他們度日諸事亨通、轉眼下入陰間。
They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. |
14 他們對 神說、離開我們罷.我們不願曉得你的道。
Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways. |
15 全能者是誰、我們何必事奉他呢.求告他有甚麼益處呢。
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?' |
16 看哪、他們亨通不在乎自己.惡人所謀定的離我好遠。
But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the counsel of the wicked. |
17 惡人的燈何嘗熄滅.患難何嘗臨到他們呢. 神何嘗發怒、向他們分散災禍呢。
"Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does calamity come upon them, the fate God allots in his anger? |
18 他們何嘗像風前的碎秸、如暴風颳去的糠秕呢。
How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gale? |
19 你們說、 神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。
It is said,'God stores up a man's punishment for his sons.' Let him repay the man himself, so that he will know it! |
20 願他親眼看見自己敗亡、親自飲全能者的忿怒。
Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty. |
21 他的歲月既盡、他還顧他本家麼。
For what does he care about the family he leaves behind when his allotted months come to an end? |
22 神既審判那在高位的、誰能將知識教訓他呢。
"Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest? |
23 有人至死身體強壯、盡得平靖安逸.
One man dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease, |
24 他的奶桶充滿、他的骨髓滋潤。
his body well nourished, his bones rich with marrow. |
25 有人至死心中痛苦、終身未嘗福樂的滋味。
Another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good. |
26 他們一樣躺臥在塵土中、都被蟲子遮蓋。
Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both. |
27 我知道你們的意思、並誣害我的計謀。
"I know full well what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me. |
28 你們說、霸者的房屋在那裡.惡人住過的帳棚在那裡。
You say, 'Where now is the great man's house, the tents where wicked men lived?' |
29 你們豈沒有詢問過路的人麼.不知道他們所引的證據麼。
Have you never questioned those who travel? Have you paid no regard to their accounts-- |
30 就是惡人在禍患的日子得存留、在發怒的日子得逃脫。
that the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, that he is delivered from the day of wrath? |
31 他所行的、有誰當面給他說明.他所作的、有誰報應他呢。
Who denounces his conduct to his face? Who repays him for what he has done? |
32 然而他要被抬到塋地、並有人看守墳墓。
He is carried to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb. |
33 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。
The soil in the valley is sweet to him; all men follow after him, and a countless throng goes before him. |
34 你們對答的話中既都錯謬、怎麼徒然安慰我呢。
"So how can you console me with your nonsense? Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!" |