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約伯自言願詣神陳述其冤

23 約伯回答說: 「如今我的哀告還算為悖逆,我的責罰比我的唉哼還重。 唯願我能知道在哪裡可以尋見神,能到他的臺前, 我就在他面前將我的案件陳明,滿口辯白。 我必知道他回答我的言語,明白他向我所說的話。 他豈用大能與我爭辯嗎?必不這樣,他必理會我。 在他那裡,正直人可以與他辯論,這樣,我必永遠脫離那審判我的。 只是我往前行,他不在那裡;往後退,也不能見他。 他在左邊行事,我卻不能看見;在右邊隱藏,我也不能見他。 10 然而他知道我所行的路,他試煉我之後,我必如精金。

自言守道弗違

11 「我腳追隨他的步履,我謹守他的道,並不偏離。 12 他嘴唇的命令,我未曾背棄;我看重他口中的言語,過於我需用的飲食。 13 只是他心志已定,誰能使他轉意呢?他心裡所願的,就行出來。 14 他向我所定的,就必做成。這類的事,他還有許多。 15 所以我在他面前驚惶,我思念這事,便懼怕他。 16 神使我喪膽,全能者使我驚惶。 17 我的恐懼不是因為黑暗,也不是因為幽暗蒙蔽我的臉。

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

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Grievous

23 Then Job answered:

“Today also my complaint is bitter;
    my hand is heavy because of my groaning.
Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
    that I might come even to His seat!
I would present my case before Him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would know the words that He would answer me
    and understand what He would say to me.
Will He plead against me with His great power?
    No! But He would take note of me.
There the righteous might dispute with Him;
    so would I be delivered forever from my Judge.

“Look, I go forward, but He is not there,
    and backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
when He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;
    He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
10 But He knows the way that I take;
    when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
11 My foot has held fast to His steps;
    I have kept His way and have not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;
    I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

13 “But He is resolute, and who can turn Him?
    And whatever His soul desires, that He does.
14 For He performs what is appointed for me,
    and many such things are with Him.
15 Therefore I am troubled at His presence;
    when I consider, I am afraid of Him.
16 For God makes my heart soft,
    and the Almighty troubles me;
17 because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness,
    nor has He covered the darkness from my face.

Job Proclaims God’s Righteous Judgments

23 Then Job answered and said:

“Even today my (A)complaint is bitter;
[a]My hand is listless because of my groaning.
(B)Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat!
I would present my case before Him,
And fill my mouth with arguments.
I would know the words which He would answer me,
And understand what He would say to me.
(C)Would He contend with me in His great power?
No! But He would take note of me.
There the upright could reason with Him,
And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

“Look,(D) I go forward, but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
10 But (E)He knows the way that I take;
When (F)He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 (G)My foot has held fast to His steps;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the (H)commandment of His lips;
(I)I have treasured the words of His mouth
More than my [b]necessary food.

13 “But He is unique, and who can make Him change?
And whatever (J)His soul desires, that He does.
14 For He performs what is (K)appointed for me,
And many such things are with Him.
15 Therefore I am terrified at His presence;
When I consider this, I am afraid of Him.
16 For God (L)made my heart weak,
And the Almighty terrifies me;
17 Because I was not (M)cut off [c]from the presence of darkness,
And He did not hide deep darkness from my face.

Footnotes

  1. Job 23:2 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX, Syr. His
  2. Job 23:12 Lit. appointed portion
  3. Job 23:17 Or by or before