16 Then Job answered and said,

I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

约伯责友之慰藉反增苦恼

16 约伯回答说: “这样的话我听了许多。你们安慰人,反叫人愁烦。 虚空的言语有穷尽吗?有什么话惹动你回答呢? 我也能说你们那样的话,你们若处在我的境遇,我也会联络言语攻击你们,又能向你们摇头。 但我必用口坚固你们,用嘴消解你们的忧愁。

历言其忧苦难堪

“我虽说话,忧愁仍不得消解。我虽停住不说,忧愁就离开我吗? 但现在神使我困倦,使亲友远离我, 又抓住我,做见证攻击我。我身体的枯瘦,也当面见证我的不是。 主发怒撕裂我,逼迫我,向我切齿;我的敌人怒目看我。 10 他们向我开口,打我的脸羞辱我,聚会攻击我。 11 神把我交给不敬虔的人,把我扔到恶人的手中。 12 我素来安逸,他折断我,掐住我的颈项,把我摔碎,又立我为他的箭靶子。 13 他的弓箭手四面围绕我,他破裂我的肺腑,并不留情,把我的胆倾倒在地上; 14 将我破裂又破裂,如同勇士向我直闯。 15 我缝麻布在我皮肤上,把我的角放在尘土中。 16 我的脸因哭泣发紫,在我的眼皮上有死荫。 17 我的手中却无强暴,我的祈祷也是清洁。

向神哀诉

18 “地啊,不要遮盖我的血!不要阻挡我的哀求! 19 现今,在天有我的见证,在上有我的中保。 20 我的朋友讥诮我,我却向神眼泪汪汪。 21 愿人得与神辩白,如同人与朋友辩白一样! 22 因为再过几年,我必走那往而不返之路。

Job

16 Then Job replied:

“I have heard many things like these;
    you are miserable comforters,(A) all of you!(B)
Will your long-winded speeches never end?(C)
    What ails you that you keep on arguing?(D)
I also could speak like you,
    if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
    and shake my head(E) at you.
But my mouth would encourage you;
    comfort(F) from my lips would bring you relief.(G)

“Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
    and if I refrain, it does not go away.(H)
Surely, God, you have worn me out;(I)
    you have devastated my entire household.(J)
You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
    my gauntness(K) rises up and testifies against me.(L)
God assails me and tears(M) me in his anger(N)
    and gnashes his teeth at me;(O)
    my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.(P)
10 People open their mouths(Q) to jeer at me;(R)
    they strike my cheek(S) in scorn
    and unite together against me.(T)
11 God has turned me over to the ungodly
    and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.(U)
12 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
    he seized me by the neck and crushed me.(V)
He has made me his target;(W)
13     his archers surround me.(X)
Without pity, he pierces(Y) my kidneys
    and spills my gall on the ground.
14 Again and again(Z) he bursts upon me;
    he rushes at me like a warrior.(AA)

15 “I have sewed sackcloth(AB) over my skin
    and buried my brow in the dust.(AC)
16 My face is red with weeping,(AD)
    dark shadows ring my eyes;(AE)
17 yet my hands have been free of violence(AF)
    and my prayer is pure.(AG)

18 “Earth, do not cover my blood;(AH)
    may my cry(AI) never be laid to rest!(AJ)
19 Even now my witness(AK) is in heaven;(AL)
    my advocate is on high.(AM)
20 My intercessor(AN) is my friend[a](AO)
    as my eyes pour out(AP) tears(AQ) to God;
21 on behalf of a man he pleads(AR) with God
    as one pleads for a friend.

22 “Only a few years will pass
    before I take the path of no return.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. Job 16:20 Or My friends treat me with scorn