约伯的回答

23 约伯回答说:
“我的哀诉至今充满苦楚,
祂的责罚使我呻吟不止。
但愿我知道何处能寻见上帝,
知道怎样去祂的居所。
我好在祂面前陈明案情,
滔滔不绝地为自己申辩;
我好知道祂的答复,
看看祂对我说什么。
祂会用大能与我争辩吗?
不会的,祂会垂听我的申诉,
允许正直的人与祂理论,
审判者会让我永远脱罪。

“然而,我去东边,祂不在那里;
我到西边,也找不到祂。
祂在北边工作,我看不见祂;
祂转到南边,我也看不见祂。
10 但祂知道我的一举一动,
我被祂试炼后必如纯金。
11 我紧随祂的脚步,
持守祂的道,没有偏离。
12 我没有违背祂的诫命,
我珍视祂的话语胜过我日用的饮食。
13 祂独行其事,谁能阻挡祂?
祂按自己的意愿行事。
14 祂在我身上的计划必然实现,
祂还有许多这样的计划。
15 所以,我在祂面前惊恐不安。
我想起这事,便对祂充满恐惧。
16 上帝使我心惊胆战,
全能者使我惊恐不安。
17 然而,我不会因为置身黑暗,
被幽暗笼罩而缄默不言。

Job’s Reply to Eliphaz

23 Then Job answered:

Today also my complaint is bitter.[a](A)
His[b] hand is heavy despite my groaning.
If only I knew how to find him,
so that I could go to his throne.
I would plead my case before him(B)
and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would learn how[c] he would answer me;
and understand what he would say to me.
Would he prosecute(C) me forcefully?
No, he would certainly pay attention to me.
Then an upright man could reason(D) with him,
and I would escape from my Judge[d](E) forever.

If I go east, he is not there,
and if I go west, I cannot perceive him.(F)
When he is at work to the north, I cannot see him;
when he turns south, I cannot find him.
10 Yet he knows the way I have taken;[e]
when he has tested me,(G) I will emerge as pure gold.
11 My feet have followed in his tracks;
I have kept to his way(H) and not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commands from his lips;
I have treasured[f] the words(I) from his mouth
more than my daily food.

13 But he is unchangeable; who can oppose him?
He does what he desires.(J)
14 He will certainly accomplish what he has decreed for me,
and he has many more things like these in mind.[g]
15 Therefore I am terrified(K) in his presence;
when I consider this, I am afraid of him.
16 God has made my heart faint;(L)
the Almighty has terrified me.
17 Yet I am not destroyed[h] by the darkness,(M)
by the thick darkness that covers my face.

Footnotes

  1. 23:2 Syr, Tg, Vg; MT reads rebellion
  2. 23:2 LXX, Syr; MT reads My
  3. 23:5 Lit the words
  4. 23:7 Or judgment
  5. 23:10 Lit way with me
  6. 23:12 LXX, Vg read treasured in my bosom
  7. 23:14 Lit these with him
  8. 23:17 Or silenced