Add parallel Print Page Options

約伯自言尋不見 神

23 約伯回答說:

“直到今日我還有苦情要申訴,

我雖然歎息,他的手仍然沉重。

但願我知道怎樣能尋見 神,

能到他的臺前來。

好讓我在他面前呈上我的案件,

滿口辯論向他申訴;

知道他要回答我的話,

明白他對我說甚麼。

他會以大能與我相爭嗎?

必不會這樣,他必關懷我。

在他那裡正直人可以與他彼此辯論,

這樣,我就必永遠擺脫那審判我的。

可是我往前走,他不在那裡;

我若往後退,我也不能見他。

他在左邊行事,我卻見不到;

他在右邊隱藏,我卻看不見。

10 可是他知道我所行的道路,

他試煉我以後,我必像精金出現。

自言未曾背道

11 我的腳緊隨他的腳步,

我謹守他的道,並不偏離。

12 他嘴唇的命令我沒有離棄,

我珍藏他口中的言語,

勝過我需用的飲食(“勝過我需用的飲食”或可參照《七十士譯本》等古譯本翻譯為“在我的心胸”)。

13 但是他既已定意,誰能使他轉意呢?

他心裡所願的,就行出來。

14 他為我所定的,他必成全,

這類的事情,他還有許多。

15 因此我在他面前驚惶,

一想到這事,我就懼怕他。

16  神使我心裡膽怯,

全能者使我驚惶,

17 因為我在黑暗面前並沒有被消滅,

也不怕幽暗遮蓋著我的臉。”

23 Then Job answered and said,

Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath 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