約伯的回答

23 約伯回答說:
「我的哀訴至今充滿苦楚,
祂的責罰使我呻吟不止。
但願我知道何處能尋見上帝,
知道怎樣去祂的居所。
我好在祂面前陳明案情,
滔滔不絕地為自己申辯;
我好知道祂的答覆,
看看祂對我說什麼。
祂會用大能與我爭辯嗎?
不會的,祂會垂聽我的申訴,
允許正直的人與祂理論,
審判者會讓我永遠脫罪。

「然而,我去東邊,祂不在那裡;
我到西邊,也找不到祂。
祂在北邊工作,我看不見祂;
祂轉到南邊,我也看不見祂。
10 但祂知道我的一舉一動,
我被祂試煉後必如純金。
11 我緊隨祂的腳步,
持守祂的道,沒有偏離。
12 我沒有違背祂的誡命,
我珍視祂的話語勝過我日用的飲食。
13 祂獨行其事,誰能阻擋祂?
祂按自己的意願行事。
14 祂在我身上的計劃必然實現,
祂還有許多這樣的計劃。
15 所以,我在祂面前驚恐不安。
我想起這事,便對祂充滿恐懼。
16 上帝使我心驚膽戰,
全能者使我驚恐不安。
17 然而,我不會因為置身黑暗,
被幽暗籠罩而緘默不言。

23 约伯回答说:
“如今我的哀告还算为悖逆;
我虽唉哼,他的手仍然重重责罚我[a]
惟愿我知道哪里可以寻见 神,
能到他的台前,
我就在他面前陈明我的案件,
满口辩诉。
我必知道他回答我的言语,
明白他向我所要说的。
他岂用大能与我争辩呢?
不!他必理会我。
在那里正直人可以与他辩论,
我就必永远脱离那审判我的。

“看哪,我往前走,他不在那里;
往后退,也没有察觉他。
他在左边行事,我却看不见他;
他转向右边[b],我也见不到他。
10 然而他知道我所走的路;
他试炼我,我就如纯金。
11 我的脚紧跟他的步伐;
我谨守他的道,并不偏离。
12 他嘴唇的命令,我未曾背弃;
我看重他口中的言语,过于我需用的饮食[c][d]
13 只是他心志已定,谁能使他转意呢?
他心里所愿的,就行出来。
14 因此,为我所定的,他必做成,
这类的事他还有许多。
15 所以我在他面前惊惶;
我思想就惧怕他。
16  神使我丧胆,
全能者使我惊惶。
17 但我并非被黑暗剪除,
只是幽暗遮盖了我的脸。

Footnotes

  1. 23.2 “他的手…责罚我”是根据七十士译本和其他古译本;原文是“我的手是重的”。
  2. 23.9 “他转向右边”或译“他在右边隐藏”。
  3. 23.12 “我需用的饮食”或译“我的原则”。
  4. 23.12 “我看重…饮食。”七十士译本是“我把他的言语珍藏在我胸怀。”

Job

23 Then Job replied:

“Even today my complaint(A) is bitter;(B)
    his hand[a] is heavy in spite of[b] my groaning.(C)
If only I knew where to find him;
    if only I could go to his dwelling!(D)
I would state my case(E) before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.(F)
I would find out what he would answer me,(G)
    and consider what he would say to me.
Would he vigorously oppose me?(H)
    No, he would not press charges against me.(I)
There the upright(J) can establish their innocence before him,(K)
    and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.(L)

“But if I go to the east, he is not there;
    if I go to the west, I do not find him.
When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
    when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.(M)
10 But he knows the way that I take;(N)
    when he has tested me,(O) I will come forth as gold.(P)
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;(Q)
    I have kept to his way without turning aside.(R)
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;(S)
    I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.(T)

13 “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?(U)
    He does whatever he pleases.(V)
14 He carries out his decree against me,
    and many such plans he still has in store.(W)
15 That is why I am terrified before him;(X)
    when I think of all this, I fear him.(Y)
16 God has made my heart faint;(Z)
    the Almighty(AA) has terrified me.(AB)
17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness,(AC)
    by the thick darkness that covers my face.

Footnotes

  1. Job 23:2 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew / the hand on me
  2. Job 23:2 Or heavy on me in