< 約伯記 7 >

1 人生在世,豈不像服兵役﹖人的歲月,豈不像傭工的時日﹖
Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
2 有如奴工切望陰涼,傭工期待工資:
As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
3 這樣,我也只有承受失意的歲月,為我注定的苦痛長夜。
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4 我臥下時說:「幾時天亮﹖」我起來時又說:「黑夜何時到﹖」我整夜輾轉反側,直到天亮。
When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
5 我的肉身以蛆蟲與泥皮為衣,我的皮膚破裂流膿。
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
6 我的日月速於織梭,也因無希望而中斷。
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7 請你記住:我的生命無非像一口氣,我的眼再也見不到幸福。
O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
8 注目於我的,再也見不到我;你的眼看我時、我已不在了。
The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
9 他去了,好像雲消霧散;下到陰府的,再也不得上來, (Sheol h7585)
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
10 不再回家,本鄉也不認識他。
He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
11 為此,我不能再閉口不言,我要吐露我心靈的憂愁,陳述我靈魂的苦楚。
Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 我豈是海洋或海怪﹖你竟派遣警衛把守我。
Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
13 我若想:「我的床榻會寬慰我,我的臥舖會減輕我的痛苦。」
When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
14 你就以噩夢擾亂我,以異像驚嚇我。
Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
15 我的心靈寧願窒息,寧死不願受此苦痛。
So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
16 我已筋疲力盡,活不下去。任憑我去罷! 因為我的日月僅是一口氣。
I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17 人算什麼,你竟如此顯揚他,將他置諸心頭,
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
18 天天早晨看護他,時刻不斷考察他﹖
And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
19 你到何時纔不注視我,而讓我輕鬆咽一下唾沫﹖
How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
20 監察人者啊! 我犯罪與你何干﹖為何叫我當你的箭靶,使我成為你的重擔﹖
I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
21 為何你不肯容忍我的過錯,寬赦我的罪惡﹖不久我將臥在塵土中,任你尋找我,我已不在了。
And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

< 約伯記 7 >