约伯自述无辜

约伯回答说:

“要是能称量我的苦难,
把我的灾殃放在秤上,
那将比海沙还重;
所以我言语鲁莽。
因为全能者的箭射中我,
箭毒侵蚀我的灵,
祂使恐惧列队袭来。
野驴有草岂会叫唤?
牛有饲料岂会哞叫?
淡食无盐岂可下咽?
蛋白有什么滋味呢?
我碰都不想碰,
它们令我恶心。
唯愿我的祈求蒙应允,
愿上帝成全我的冀望,
愿祂压碎我,
伸手毁灭我。
10 这样,我还能感到欣慰,
在残酷的痛苦中雀跃,
因我没有违背圣者之言。
11 我有何力量可以支撑下去?
有何前景让我忍耐下去?
12 我的力量岂能坚如石?
我岂是铜造之躯?
13 我毫无自救之力,
已到穷途末路。

14 “即使绝望者抛弃对上帝的敬畏,
也应该得到朋友的恩待。
15 我的弟兄难以信赖,如同季节河,
又像变化无常的河道——
16 结冰后颜色发黑,
融雪后水流涨溢;
17 水流在干季时消失,
河床在烈日下干涸。
18 商队偏离原路来找水喝,
结果在荒漠中死去。
19 提玛的商队来找水喝,
示巴的旅客指望解渴,
20 结果希望化为泡影,
到了那里大失所望。
21 同样,你们帮不了我,
你们看见灾祸便害怕。
22 我何尝对你们说过,
‘请你们供应我,
把你们的财产给我一份,
23 从仇敌手中拯救我,
从残暴之徒手中救赎我’?

24 “请多赐教,我会闭口不言;
请指出我错在何处。
25 忠言何等逆耳!
但你们的指责有何根据?
26 你们既视绝望者的话如风,
还要来纠正吗?
27 你们甚至抽签得孤儿,
把朋友当货物卖掉。
28 恳请你们看着我,
我在你们面前撒过谎吗?
29 请以仁慈为怀,公正一点;
请以仁慈为怀,因我诚实无过。
30 我岂会说诡诈之言?
我岂会是非不辨?

Job: My Complaint Is Just

Then Job answered and said:

“Oh, that my grief were fully weighed,
And my calamity laid with it on the scales!
For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea—
Therefore my words have been rash.
(A)For the arrows of the Almighty are within me;
My spirit drinks in their poison;
(B)The terrors of God are arrayed (C)against me.
Does the (D)wild donkey bray when it has grass,
Or does the ox low over its fodder?
Can flavorless food be eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
My soul refuses to touch them;
They are as loathsome food to me.

“Oh, that I might have my request,
That God would grant me the thing that I long for!
That it would please God to crush me,
That He would loose His hand and (E)cut me off!
10 Then I would still have comfort;
Though in anguish I would exult,
He will not spare;
For (F)I have not concealed the words of (G)the Holy One.

11 “What strength do I have, that I should hope?
And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones?
Or is my flesh bronze?
13 Is my help not within me?
And is success driven from me?

14 “To(H) him who is [a]afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend,
Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 (I)My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook,
(J)Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,
16 Which are dark because of the ice,
And into which the snow vanishes.
17 When it is warm, they cease to flow;
When it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18 The paths of their way turn aside,
They go nowhere and perish.
19 The caravans of (K)Tema look,
The travelers of (L)Sheba hope for them.
20 They are (M)disappointed[b] because they were confident;
They come there and are confused.
21 For now (N)you are nothing,
You see terror and (O)are afraid.
22 Did I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’?
Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?
23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand’?
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of oppressors’?

24 “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue;
Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forceful are right words!
But what does your arguing prove?
26 Do you intend to rebuke my words,
And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?
27 Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless,
And you (P)undermine your friend.
28 Now therefore, be pleased to look at me;
For I would never lie to your face.
29 (Q)Yield now, let there be no injustice!
Yes, concede, my (R)righteousness [c]still stands!
30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my [d]taste discern the unsavory?

Footnotes

  1. Job 6:14 Or despairing
  2. Job 6:20 Lit. ashamed
  3. Job 6:29 Lit. is in it
  4. Job 6:30 palate

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just

Then Job answered and said:

“Oh that my vexation were weighed,
    and all my calamity laid in the balances!
For then it would be heavier than (A)the sand of the sea;
    therefore my words have been rash.
For (B)the arrows of the Almighty are in me;
    my spirit drinks their poison;
    the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass,
    or the ox low over his fodder?
Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt,
    or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?[a]
My appetite refuses to touch them;
    they are as food that is loathsome to me.[b]

“Oh that I might have my request,
    and that God would fulfill my hope,
that it would (C)please God to crush me,
    that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
10 This would be my comfort;
    I would even exult[c] in pain (D)unsparing,
    for I have not denied the words of (E)the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait?
    And what is my end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?
13 Have I any help in me,
    when resource is driven from me?

14 “He who (F)withholds[d] kindness from a (G)friend
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My (H)brothers are (I)treacherous as a torrent-bed,
    as torrential (J)streams that pass away,
16 which are dark with ice,
    and where the snow hides itself.
17 When they melt, they disappear;
    when it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18 The caravans turn aside from their course;
    they go up into (K)the waste and perish.
19 The caravans of (L)Tema look,
    the travelers of (M)Sheba hope.
20 They are (N)ashamed because they were confident;
    they come there and are (O)disappointed.
21 For you have now become nothing;
    you see my calamity and are afraid.
22 Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’?
    Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’?
23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary's hand’?
    Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of (P)the ruthless’?

24 “Teach me, and I will be silent;
    make me understand how I have gone astray.
25 How forceful are upright words!
    But what does reproof from you reprove?
26 Do you think that you can reprove words,
    when the speech of a despairing man is (Q)wind?
27 You would even (R)cast lots over the fatherless,
    and bargain over your friend.

28 “But now, be pleased to look at me,
    for I will not lie to your face.
29 (S)Please turn; let no injustice be done.
    Turn now; my vindication is at stake.
30 Is there any injustice on my tongue?
    Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?

Footnotes

  1. Job 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  2. Job 6:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  3. Job 6:10 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  4. Job 6:14 Syriac, Vulgate (compare Targum); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain

约伯自述苦况

于是约伯回答说:

“但愿称称我的烦恼,

把我的灾害一起放在天平上。

现在这些都比海沙更重,

所以我冒失发言。

因为全能者的箭射中我,

我的灵喝尽了箭的毒液,

 神的惊吓排阵攻击我。

野驴有草料还会哀鸣吗?

牛有饲料还会穷叫吗?

淡而无盐的食物有甚么好吃呢?

蛋白有甚么味道呢?

这些使我恶心的食物,

我必不肯尝。

切愿被 神剪除

但愿我得着我所祈求的,

愿 神赐我所盼望的。

愿他乐意把我压碎,

愿他放手把我剪除。

10 这样,我们得安慰,

在无情的痛苦之中我还可以欢跃,

因为我没有否认那圣者的言语。

11 我有甚么力量使我能等候呢?

我的结局是甚么好叫我忍耐呢?

12 我的气力是石头一样吗?

我的肉身是铜的吗?

13 我里面不是无能自助吗?

见识不是离我而去吗?

责友缺乏爱心

14 朋友应该怜悯灰心的人,

因为他舍弃了对全能者的敬畏。

15 我的兄弟诡诈像干涸的溪流,

又像流干的溪水;

16 水流因冰块融化而混浊,

有雪隐藏在其中。

17 天气一暖溪水就消失,

气候一热就干涸。

18 商队顺溪而行,结果偏离原道,

走到荒野之地而死亡。

19 提玛的商队瞻望溪水,

示巴的客旅等候水流。

20 他们失望,因为所盼望的落了空;

他们到达那里就灰心。

21 现在你们就是这样,

看见我的灾难就害怕。

22 难道我说过‘请供给我’,

或说‘取你们的财物馈赠我’吗?

23 或我说过‘救我脱离敌人的手’,

或说‘赎我脱离强暴人的手’吗?

劝友说话公平

24 请指教,我就默不作声;

请指示,我有甚么过错。

25 正直的言语多么有力!

但你们的责备究竟责备甚么呢?

26 绝望人的话不过是风,

你们还想批判吗?

27 你们竟抽签得孤儿,

拿朋友当货物。

28 现在请你们看看我,

我绝不当你们的面撒谎。

29 请转意,不要不公道;

请再转意,我还有道理在。

30 我的舌上有不义吗?

我的口不能辨别灾害吗?”