13 「這一切,我親眼見過,
親耳聽過,且已明白。
你們知道的我也知道,
我不比你們遜色。
我想和全能者對話,
我渴望跟上帝理論。
而你們只會編造謊言,
都是無用的庸醫。
但願你們閉口不言,
那樣還算你們明智。
請聽我的申辯,
留心聽我的爭訟。
你們要為上帝說謊,
為祂說詭詐的話嗎?
你們要偏袒上帝嗎?
你們要替祂辯護嗎?
祂查問你們時豈會有好結果?
你們豈能像欺騙人一樣欺騙祂?
10 你們若暗中偏袒,
祂必責備你們。
11 難道你們不怕祂的威嚴,
不對祂充滿恐懼嗎?
12 你們的名言是無用的灰塵,
你們的雄辯是土築的營壘。

13 「你們住口,讓我發言;
我願承擔一切後果。
14 我已經豁出性命,
不惜冒生命危險。
15 祂必殺我,我毫無指望,[a]
但我仍要在祂面前申辯。
16 這樣我才能得救,
因為不信上帝的人無法到祂面前。
17 請留心聽我說話,
側耳聽我發言。
18 看啊,我已準備好辯詞,
我知道自己有理。
19 若有人能指控我,
我就緘默,情願死去。
20 上帝啊,只要你應允兩件事,
我就不躲避你的面,
21 求你把手從我身上挪開,
不要用你的威嚴驚嚇我。
22 這樣,你傳喚我,我必回應;
或者讓我陳述,你來回答。
23 我究竟有什麼過錯和罪惡?
求你指出我的過犯和罪愆。
24 你為何掩面不看我?
為何把我當作仇敵?
25 你要恐嚇一片風中的落葉嗎?
你要追趕一根枯乾的茅草嗎?
26 你記下指控我的罪狀,
讓我承擔幼年的罪惡。
27 你給我上了腳鐐,
監視我的一舉一動,
為我的腳掌設界限。
28 我消逝如朽爛之物,
又如蟲蛀的衣服。

Footnotes

  1. 13·15 祂必殺我,我毫無指望」或譯「即使祂殺我,我也信靠祂」。

13 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this,
Mine ear hath heard and understood it.
What ye know, the same do I know also:
I am not inferior unto you.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.
But ye are forgers of lies;
Ye are all physicians of no value.
Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace!
And it would be your wisdom.
Hear now my reasoning,
And hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
Will ye speak unrighteously for God,
And talk deceitfully for him?
Will ye show partiality to him?
Will ye contend for God?
Is it good that he should search you out?
Or as one [a]deceiveth a man, will ye [b]deceive him?
10 He will surely reprove you,
If ye do secretly show partiality.
11 Shall not his majesty make you afraid,
And his dread fall upon you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,
Your defences are defences of clay.

13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak;
And let come on me what will.
14 [c]Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth,
And put my life in my hand?
15 [d]Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope:
Nevertheless I will [e]maintain my ways before him.
16 This also shall be my salvation,
That a godless man shall not come before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech,
And let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Behold now, I have set my cause in order;
I know that I [f]am righteous.
19 Who is he that will contend with me?
For then [g]would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.

20 Only do not two things unto me;
Then will I not hide myself from thy face:
21 Withdraw thy hand far from me;
And let not thy terror make me afraid.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer;
Or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins?
Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face,
And holdest me for thine enemy?
25 Wilt thou harass a driven leaf?
And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me,
And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth:
27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks,
And markest all my paths;
Thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet:
28 [h]Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:9 Or, mocketh
  2. Job 13:9 Or, mock
  3. Job 13:14 Or, At all adventures I will take etc.
  4. Job 13:15 Or, Though he slay me, yet will I wait for him
  5. Job 13:15 Hebrew argue.
  6. Job 13:18 Or, shall be justified
  7. Job 13:19 Or, if I hold my peace, I shall give up etc.
  8. Job 13:28 Hebrew And he is like.