40 耶和华又对约伯说:
“强辩者岂可与全能者争论?
与上帝辩驳的人请作出答复。”

约伯回答耶和华说:
“我这样卑微,怎能答复你?
我只有用手掩口。
我说了一次,不能答复;
说了两次,不敢再说。”

耶和华从旋风中对约伯说:
“你要像勇士一样束腰备战,
我来提问,你来回答。
你要推翻我的公义,
归罪于我而自以为义吗?
你有上帝那样的臂膀吗?
你能像祂那样发出雷鸣吗?
10 请展示你的荣耀和光辉,
披上你的尊荣和威严;
11 发泄你满腔的怒火,
鉴察骄傲者,贬抑他;
12 鉴察骄傲者,制服他,
将恶人原地践踏;
13 将他们一起埋进尘土,
藏入幽冥。
14 这样,我就承认你的右手能拯救自己。

15 “你看河马,
它和你都是我造的,
它像牛一样吃草。
16 你看它腰间的气力,
它腹部肌肉的力量。
17 它尾巴挺直如香柏树,
大腿的筋紧密相连,
18 骨头如铜管,
四肢像铁棍。
19 它是上帝创造的杰作,
创造主赐给它利刃[a]
20 群山供应它食物,
百兽在那里玩耍。
21 它躺在莲叶之下,
藏在泥沼的芦苇间,
22 莲叶为它遮荫,
溪畔的柳树环绕它。
23 河水泛滥,它不惊惧;
约旦河涨到它口边,它也无忧。
24 谁能在它警觉时捕捉它,
或用钩子穿透它的鼻子?

Footnotes

  1. 40:19 创造主赐给它利刃”或译“只有创造主能持利刃接近它”。

40 The Lord answered and said to Job:

“Will the person who ·argues [contends] with the Almighty correct him?
Let the person who ·accuses [reproves] God answer him.”

Then Job answered the Lord:

“I am ·not worthy [small]; I cannot answer you anything,
    so I will put my hand over my mouth [C to indicate no more talking].
I spoke one time, but I will not answer again;
    I even spoke two times, but I will ·say [add] nothing more.”

Then the Lord spoke to Job from the ·storm [whirlwind]:

“·Be strong [Brace yourself; L Gird your loins], like a man!
    I will ask you questions,
    and you must ·answer [inform] me [38:3].
Would you ·say that I am unfair [discredit my justice]?
    Would you ·blame [condemn] me to make yourself look ·right [righteous]?
·Are you [L Is your arm] as strong as God?
    Can your voice thunder like his?
10 If so, then decorate yourself with ·glory [loftiness] and ·beauty [pride];
    dress in ·honor [splendor] and ·greatness [majesty] as if they were clothing.
11 Let your great anger ·punish [L loose];
    look at the proud and bring them down.
12 Look at the proud and make them ·humble [submit].
    Crush the wicked wherever they ·are [stand].
13 ·Bury [L Hide] them all in the ·dirt [dust] together;
    ·cover [hide] their faces in the ·grave [L hidden place].
14 If you can do that, then I myself will ·praise [acknowledge] you,
    because ·you are strong enough to save yourself [L your right hand has given you the victory].

15 “Look at Behemoth, [C a large land animal or monster],
    which I made just as I made you.
    It eats grass like an ox.
16 Look at the strength it has in its ·body [L loins];
    the muscles of its stomach are powerful.
17 Its tail ·is [stiffens] like a cedar tree;
    the ·muscles [sinews] of its thighs are woven together.
18 Its bones are like tubes of bronze;
    its legs are like bars of iron.
19 It is one of the first of God’s works,
    but its Maker can ·destroy it [L approach it with a sword].
20 The hills, where the wild animals play,
    provide food for it.
21 It ·lies [lives] under the lotus plants,
    hidden by the ·tall grass in the swamp [reeds of the marsh].
22 The lotus plants ·hide [cover] it in their shadow;
    the poplar trees by the ·streams [wadis] surround it.
23 If the river ·floods [grows turbulent], it will not ·be afraid [or hurry away];
    it is ·safe [confident; secure] even if the Jordan River rushes to its mouth.
24 Can anyone ·blind its eyes and capture it [or take it with a hook]?
    Can anyone ·put hooks in its nose [pierce its nose with a snare]?

40 The Lord answered Job:

Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who argues with God give an answer.[a]

Then Job answered the Lord:

I am so insignificant. How can I answer you?(A)
I place my hand over my mouth.
I have spoken once, and I will not reply;
twice, but now I can add nothing.(B)

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:(C)

Get ready to answer me like a man;
when I question(D) you, you will inform me.
Would you really challenge my justice?
Would you declare me guilty(E) to justify yourself?(F)
Do you have an arm like God’s?
Can you thunder with a voice like his?

10 Adorn yourself with majesty(G) and splendor,
and clothe yourself with honor and glory.
11 Pour out your raging anger;(H)
look on every proud person and humiliate him.(I)
12 Look on every proud person and humble him;(J)
trample the wicked where they stand.[b]
13 Hide them together in the dust;
imprison them in the grave.[c]
14 Then I will confess to you
that your own right hand(K) can deliver you.(L)

15 Look at Behemoth,
which I made along with you.
He eats grass like cattle.
16 Look at the strength of his back[d]
and the power in the muscles of his belly.
17 He stiffens his tail like a cedar tree;
the tendons of his thighs are woven firmly together.
18 His bones are bronze tubes;
his limbs are like iron rods.
19 He is the foremost of God’s works;(M)
only his Maker can draw the sword against him.
20 The hills yield food for him,
while all sorts of wild animals play there.
21 He lies under the lotus plants,
hiding in the protection[e] of marshy reeds.
22 Lotus plants cover him with their shade;
the willows by the brook surround him.
23 Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid;
he remains confident, even if the Jordan surges up to his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him while he looks on,[f]
or pierce his nose with snares?

Footnotes

  1. 40:2 Lit God respond to it
  2. 40:12 Lit wicked in their place
  3. 40:13 Lit together; bind their faces in the hidden place
  4. 40:16 Or waist
  5. 40:21 Lit plants, in the hiding place
  6. 40:24 Lit capture it in its eyes