13 “这一切,我亲眼见过,
亲耳听过,且已明白。
你们知道的我也知道,
我不比你们逊色。
我想和全能者对话,
我渴望跟上帝理论。
而你们只会编造谎言,
都是无用的庸医。
但愿你们闭口不言,
那样还算你们明智。
请听我的申辩,
留心听我的争讼。
你们要为上帝说谎,
为祂说诡诈的话吗?
你们要偏袒上帝吗?
你们要替祂辩护吗?
祂查问你们时岂会有好结果?
你们岂能像欺骗人一样欺骗祂?
10 你们若暗中偏袒,
祂必责备你们。
11 难道你们不怕祂的威严,
不对祂充满恐惧吗?
12 你们的名言是无用的灰尘,
你们的雄辩是土筑的营垒。

13 “你们住口,让我发言;
我愿承担一切后果。
14 我已经豁出性命,
不惜冒生命危险。
15 祂必杀我,我毫无指望,[a]
但我仍要在祂面前申辩。
16 这样我才能得救,
因为不信上帝的人无法到祂面前。
17 请留心听我说话,
侧耳听我发言。
18 看啊,我已准备好辩词,
我知道自己有理。
19 若有人能指控我,
我就缄默,情愿死去。
20 上帝啊,只要你应允两件事,
我就不躲避你的面,
21 求你把手从我身上挪开,
不要用你的威严惊吓我。
22 这样,你传唤我,我必回应;
或者让我陈述,你来回答。
23 我究竟有什么过错和罪恶?
求你指出我的过犯和罪愆。
24 你为何掩面不看我?
为何把我当作仇敌?
25 你要恐吓一片风中的落叶吗?
你要追赶一根枯干的茅草吗?
26 你记下指控我的罪状,
让我承担幼年的罪恶。
27 你给我上了脚镣,
监视我的一举一动,
为我的脚掌设界限。
28 我消逝如朽烂之物,
又如虫蛀的衣服。

Footnotes

  1. 13:15 祂必杀我,我毫无指望”或译“即使祂杀我,我也信靠祂”。

13 “Lo, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.

“I, also, know as much as you know. I am not inferior to you.

“But I will speak to the Almighty. And I desire to convince God.

“For indeed you forge lies. And all of you are physicians of no value.

“Oh, that you would hold your tongue, and it would become your wisdom.

“Now hear my correction and give ear to the arguments of my lips.

“Will you speak wickedly of God and talk deceitfully of His cause?

“Are you lifting up His Person if you strive with God?

“Is it well that He should seek you if you lie for Him, as one lies for a man?

10 “He will surely reprove you if you secretly lift up any person.

11 “Shall not His excellency make you afraid and His fear fall upon you?

12 “Your memories may be compared to ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

13 “Hold your tongues in my presence, so that I may speak and let come upon me what will.

14 “Why do I take my flesh in my teeth and put my soul in my hand?

15 “Lo, though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him. And I will prove my ways in His sight.

16 “He shall also be my salvation. For the hypocrite shall not come before Him.

17 “Hear diligently my words, and mark my talk.

18 “Behold now, I prepare myself for judgment. I know that I shall be justified.

19 “Who is he who will contend with me? For if I hold my tongue now, I die.

20 “Only, do not do these two things to me. Then will I not hide myself from You.

21 “Withdraw Your Hand from me and do not let Your fear make me afraid.

22 “Then call, and I will answer. Or let me speak, and answer me.

23 “How many are my iniquities and sins? Show me my rebellion and my sin.

24 “Why do You hide Your Face and take me for Your enemy?

25 “Will You break a leaf, driven to and fro? And will You pursue the dry stubble?

26 “For You write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

27 “You also put my feet in the stocks, look narrowly to all my paths, and imprint them with the heels of my feet.

28 “Such a one consumes like a rotten thing, as a garment that is moth-eaten.”