约伯咒诅自己

后来,约伯开口咒诅自己的生日, 说:

“愿我出生的那日和怀我的那夜灭没。
愿那日一片黑暗,
被天上的上帝遗忘,
没有阳光照耀。
愿那日被黑暗和阴影笼罩,
被密云覆盖,
被阴暗淹没。
愿那夜被幽暗吞噬,
不列在年日中,
不算在岁月里。
愿那夜无人生育,
毫无快乐之声。
愿那些咒诅白日、
能惹动海怪的人,
咒诅那夜。
愿那夜的晨星昏暗,
等不到晨光的出现,
看不见黎明的眼帘。
10 因为那夜没有关闭我母胎的门,
以致让我看见患难。

11 “为何我不出生时就夭折,
出母胎时就断气?
12 为何要把我抱在膝上,
用乳汁哺育我?
13 不然我早已安然躺卧、长眠安息,
14 与世上的君王和谋臣作伴——他们建造的宫殿已荒废,
15 与房屋堆满金银的王侯同眠。
16 为何我没有像未见天日就流产的婴儿一样消逝?
17 那里,恶人不再搅扰,
疲惫者得到安息,
18 被囚者得到安宁,
听不见监工的斥责。
19 尊贵与卑贱的人都在那里,
奴仆不再受主人的辖制。

20 “为何赐光给受苦的人,
赐生命给心灵痛苦的人?
21 他们等候死亡却等不到,
他们求死胜于求宝藏。
22 他们归入坟墓时非常快乐,
欣喜若狂。
23 为何赐生命给前路渺茫、
被上帝围困的人?
24 我以叹息为食,
呻吟如水涌流。
25 我害怕的事发生了,
我恐惧的事来临了。
26 我不得安宁,
不得平静,
不得安息,
只有苦难。”

Job Curses His Birth

After seven days Job spoke. He cursed the day he had been born. Job said:

“Let the day I was born be destroyed.
    And destroy the night when it was said, ‘A boy is born!’
Let that day turn to darkness.
    Let God not even care about it.
    Don’t let light shine on that day.
Let darkness and gloom have that day.
    Let a cloud hide that day.
    Let darkness cover its light.
Let thick darkness capture that night.
    Don’t count it among the days of the year.
    Don’t put it in any of the months.
Let that night be empty.
    Let no shout of joy be heard in it.
Let the people who curse days curse that day.
    They know how to wake up the sea monster Leviathan.
Let that day’s morning stars become dark.
    Let it wait for daylight, but don’t let it come.
    Don’t let it see the first light of dawn.
10 This is because it allowed me to be born.
    That day did not hide trouble from my eyes.

11 “Why didn’t I die as soon as I was born?
    Why didn’t I die when I came out of the womb?
12 Why did my mother’s knees receive me?
    Why did my mother’s breasts feed me?
13 If they had not been there, I would be lying dead in peace.
    I would be asleep and at rest.
14 I would be asleep with kings and wise men of the earth.
    They built places for themselves that are now ruined.
15 I would be asleep with rulers who had gold.
    They filled their houses with silver!
16 Or why was I not buried like a child born dead?
    I wish I were like a baby who never saw the light of day.
17 In the grave the wicked stop causing trouble.
    And people who are tired are at rest.
18 In the grave there is rest for the captives.
    They no longer hear the shout of the slave driver.
19 People great and small are in the grave.
    And the slave is freed from his master.

20 “Why is life given to those who are in misery?
    Why is it given to those who are so unhappy?
21 Some people want to die, but death does not come.
    They search for death more than for hidden treasure.
22 They are very happy
    when they get to the grave.
23 Life shouldn’t be given to a man who doesn’t know what will happen to him.
    It shouldn’t be given to a man who feels trapped by God.
24 I make sad sounds as I eat.
    My groans pour out like water.
25 The thing I was afraid of has happened to me.
    And the thing I dreaded has happened.
26 I have no peace. I have no quietness.
    I have no rest. I only have trouble.”