約伯記 8

1 叔亞人彼耳達得發言說：

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

2 這些話你要講到幾時﹖你口中的話像狂風要到何時﹖

"How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

3 天主豈能違背公道﹖全能者豈能屈枉正義﹖

Does God pervert justice? Or does Shaddai pervert righteousness?

4 若你的子女得罪了他，他必將他們交於罪過的權勢下。

If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.

5 你若急切尋覓天主，哀求全能者；

If you want to seek God diligently, make your petition to Shaddai.

6 你若純潔正直，他必親來守護你，恢復你正義的居所。

If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

7 你起初雖然微小，今後必要興隆強大。

Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.

8 請你查問上一代，細想祖先的經驗；

"Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.

9 因為我們由昨日纔有，本來一無所知；我們在世上的日月，好似影子。

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)

10 他們必訓誡你，指教你，向你說出內心的話：

Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?

11 蒲草不在池沼內，怎能長大﹖蘆葦沒有水，怎會長起﹖

"Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?

12 在茁壯中，尚未砍下，已先百草而枯萎。

While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.

13 凡忘記天主的，他的末路也是這樣：惡人的希望必化為泡影。

So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,

14 他的依靠好似游絲，他的憑藉有如蛛網。

Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider's web.

15 他倚恃自己的家，但它卻站立不住；他要依附自己的住所，住所卻不能久存。

He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.

16 它在日光下而青蔥，枝蔓爬滿了園囿，

He is green before the sun. His shoots go forth over his garden.

17 根盤據在石堆上，纏繞在石屋上。

His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.

18 若有人從原處把它拔除，那地必否認說：「我未曾見過它。」

If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.'

19 看，它要腐爛在路上，必從地上生出另一棵。

Look, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring.

20 天主決不棄捨完善的人，也決不支持惡人的勢力。

"Look, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.

21 你的口角必再洋溢著喜悅，你的唇邊必再充滿歡笑。

He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.

22 憎恨你的必蒙受羞辱，惡人的帳幕必化為烏有。

Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more."