< Job 1 >

1 Once there was a man called Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was a man of integrity who did what was right. He respected God and avoided evil.
烏斯地有一個人名叫約伯;那人完全正直,敬畏上帝,遠離惡事。
2 He had seven sons and three daughters.
他生了七個兒子,三個女兒。
3 He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys, as well as many servants. He was more wealthy than anyone else in the East.
他的家產有七千羊,三千駱駝,五百對牛,五百母驢,並有許多僕婢。這人在東方人中就為至大。
4 Job's sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes on their specific day, also inviting their sisters to come and eat and drink with them.
他的兒子按着日子各在自己家裏設擺筵宴,就打發人去,請了他們的三個姊妹來,與他們一同吃喝。
5 When the days of feasting were over, Job would send for them and purify them by getting up early in the morning to offer a burnt offering for each of them. He was concerned, thinking to himself, “Maybe my children have sinned in some way and have unintentionally offended God.” This is what Job always did.
筵宴的日子過了,約伯打發人去叫他們自潔。他清早起來,按着他們眾人的數目獻燔祭;因為他說:「恐怕我兒子犯了罪,心中棄掉上帝。」約伯常常這樣行。
6 One day the angels came to present themselves to the Lord, and Satan came with them.
有一天,上帝的眾子來侍立在耶和華面前,撒但也來在其中。
7 The Lord asked Satan, “What have you been doing?” “Traveling around on earth, going here and there,” Satan replied.
耶和華問撒但說:「你從哪裏來?」撒但回答說:「我從地上走來走去,往返而來。」
8 “Have you paid attention to Job, my servant?” asked the Lord. “There's no one like him on earth, a man of integrity who does what is right, who respects God and avoids evil.”
耶和華問撒但說:「你曾用心察看我的僕人約伯沒有?地上再沒有人像他完全正直,敬畏上帝,遠離惡事。」
9 “Is it for nothing that Job respects God?” Satan answered. “You've placed a protective fence around him and his family—in fact around everything he has.
撒但回答耶和華說:「約伯敬畏上帝,豈是無故呢?
10 You have blessed everything he does. His flocks and herds have increased so much they fill the whole land!
你豈不是四面圈上籬笆圍護他和他的家,並他一切所有的嗎?他手所做的都蒙你賜福;他的家產也在地上增多。
11 But if you reach out and take everything he has, he will definitely curse you to your face.”
你且伸手毀他一切所有的;他必當面棄掉你。」
12 The Lord told Satan, “Very well, you have the power to do whatever you want to everything he has, but don't hurt him physically.” Then Satan left the Lord's presence.
耶和華對撒但說:「凡他所有的都在你手中;只是不可伸手加害於他。」於是撒但從耶和華面前退去。
13 The day came when while Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
有一天,約伯的兒女正在他們長兄的家裏吃飯喝酒,
14 a messenger came to Job and told him, “As the oxen were plowing and female donkeys were grazing nearby,
有報信的來見約伯,說:「牛正耕地,驢在旁邊吃草,
15 the Sabeans attacked and took them, killing the herdsmen. Only I escaped to bring you this news.”
示巴人忽然闖來,把牲畜擄去,並用刀殺了僕人;惟有我一人逃脫,來報信給你。」
16 While he was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and set the sheep and shepherds on fire and burned them up. Only I escaped to bring you this news.”
他還說話的時候,又有人來說:「上帝從天上降下火來,將群羊和僕人都燒滅了;惟有我一人逃脫,來報信給你。」
17 While he was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “Three armed companies of Chaldeans attacked the camels and took them, killing the herdsmen. Only I escaped to bring you this news.”
他還說話的時候,又有人來說:「迦勒底人分作三隊忽然闖來,把駱駝擄去,並用刀殺了僕人;惟有我一人逃脫,來報信給你。」
18 While he was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother
他還說話的時候,又有人來說:「你的兒女正在他們長兄的家裏吃飯喝酒,
19 when all of a sudden a tremendous wind came in from the desert. It hit the house on all four sides so that it collapsed on them and they died. Only I escaped to bring you this news.”
不料,有狂風從曠野颳來,擊打房屋的四角,房屋倒塌在少年人身上,他們就都死了;惟有我一人逃脫,來報信給你。」
20 Then Job stood up and tore his robe. Then cut off his hair and fell to the ground in worship.
約伯便起來,撕裂外袍,剃了頭,伏在地上下拜,
21 “I was naked when I came out of my mother's womb, and I shall be naked when I leave,” he said. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. May the Lord's name be honored.”
說:「我赤身出於母胎,也必赤身歸回;賞賜的是耶和華,收取的也是耶和華。耶和華的名是應當稱頌的。」
22 In all of this Job did not sin, nor blame God.
在這一切的事上約伯並不犯罪,也不以上帝為愚妄。

< Job 1 >