Job 21
1 Then Job responded by saying:
約伯回答說：
2 I beseech you to hear my words and to do penance.
你們要細聽我的言語， 就算是你們安慰我。
3 Permit me, and I will speak, and afterwards, if you see fit, you can laugh at my words.
請寬容我，我又要說話； 說了以後，任憑你們嗤笑吧！
4 Is my dispute against man, so that I would have no reason to be discouraged?
我豈是向人訴冤？ 為何不焦急呢？
5 Listen to me and be astonished, and place a finger over your mouth.
你們要看着我而驚奇， 用手摀口。
6 As for me, when I think it over, I am afraid, and trembling convulses my body.
我每逢思想，心就驚惶， 渾身戰兢。
7 Why then do the impious live, having been lifted up and strengthened with riches?
惡人為何存活， 享大壽數，勢力強盛呢？
8 They see their offspring continue before them: a commotion of close relatives and of children’s children in their sight.
他們眼見兒孫， 和他們一同堅立。
9 Their houses have been secure and peaceable, and there is no staff of God over them.
他們的家宅平安無懼； 上帝的杖也不加在他們身上。
10 Their cattle have conceived and have not miscarried; their cow has given birth and is not deprived of her newborn.
他們的公牛孳生而不斷絕； 母牛下犢而不掉胎。
11 Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children jump around playfully.
他們打發小孩子出去，多如羊群； 他們的兒女踴躍跳舞。
12 They take up the timbrel and the lyre, and they rejoice at the sound of the organ.
他們隨着琴鼓歌唱， 又因簫聲歡喜。
他們度日諸事亨通， 轉眼下入陰間。 (Sheol h7585)
14 Who has said to God, “Depart from us, for we do not want the knowledge of your ways.
他們對上帝說：離開我們吧！ 我們不願曉得你的道。
15 Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And how is it helpful to us if we pray to him?”
全能者是誰，我們何必事奉他呢？ 求告他有甚麼益處呢？
16 It is true that their good things are not in their power. May the counsel of the impious be far from me!
看哪，他們亨通不在乎自己； 惡人所謀定的離我好遠。
17 How often will the lamp of the wicked be extinguished, and a deluge overtake them, and how often will he distribute the afflictions of his wrath?
惡人的燈何嘗熄滅？ 患難何嘗臨到他們呢？ 上帝何嘗發怒，向他們分散災禍呢？
18 They will be like chaff before the face of the wind, and like ashes that the whirlwind scatters.
他們何嘗像風前的碎詡， 如暴風颳去的糠詷呢？
19 God will preserve the grief of the father for his sons, and, when he repays, then he will understand.
你們說：上帝為惡人的兒女積蓄罪孽； 我說：不如本人受報，好使他親自知道。
20 His eyes will see his own destruction, and he will drink from the wrath of the Almighty.
願他親眼看見自己敗亡， 親自飲全能者的忿怒。
21 For what does he care what happens to his house after him, or if the number of its months are reduced by half?
他的歲月既盡， 他還顧他本家嗎？
22 Can anyone teach holy knowledge to God, who judges the exalted?
上帝既審判那在高位的， 誰能將知識教訓他呢？
23 This one dies strong and healthy, rich and happy.
有人至死身體強壯， 盡得平靖安逸；
24 His gut is full of fat and his bones are moistened with marrow.
他的奶桶充滿， 他的骨髓滋潤。
25 In truth, another dies in bitterness of soul, without any resources.
有人至死心中痛苦， 終身未嘗福樂的滋味；
26 And yet they will sleep together in the dust, and worms will cover them.
他們一樣躺臥在塵土中， 都被蟲子遮蓋。
27 Surely, I know your thoughts and your sinful judgments against me.
我知道你們的意思， 並誣害我的計謀。
28 For you say, “Where is the house of the ruler, and where are the tabernacles of the impious?”
你們說：霸者的房屋在哪裏？ 惡人住過的帳棚在哪裏？
29 Ask any passerby whom you wish, and you will realize that he understands these same things:
你們豈沒有詢問過路的人嗎？ 不知道他們所引的證據嗎？
30 that the evil-doer is reserved for the day of destruction, and he will be led to the day of wrath.
就是惡人在禍患的日子得存留， 在發怒的日子得逃脫。
31 Who will reprove his way to his face, and who will repay him for what he has done?
他所行的，有誰當面給他說明？ 他所做的，有誰報應他呢？
32 He will be led to the tomb, and he will remain awake in the chaos of the dead.
然而他要被抬到塋地； 並有人看守墳墓。
33 He has been found acceptable to the banks of the River of Lamentation, and he will draw any man towards him, and there are countless before him.
他要以谷中的土塊為甘甜； 在他以先去的無數， 在他以後去的更多。
34 Therefore, how long will you console me in vain, when your answer is shown to be repugnant to truth?
你們對答的話中既都錯謬， 怎麼徒然安慰我呢？
