Job 33

1 “However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

約伯，請你且聽我的話，側耳靜聽我說的一切。

2 See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.

請看，我已開口，舌頭已在口腔內發言。

3 My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.

我的話是出於正直的心，我的唇舌要清楚說明真理。

4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

天主的神造了我，全能者的氣息使我生活。

5 If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.

你如果能夠，就回答我，請準備好，來對抗我。

6 Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.

看，我與你在天主前都是一樣，我也是用泥土造成的。

7 Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.

所以我的威嚇不會使你恐怖，我的手也不會重壓在你身上。

8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

你所說的，我已耳聞，聽到了你所說的話：「

9 ‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

我本純潔無罪，清白無瑕。

10 Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.

但天主卻在我身上找錯，視我為他的對頭；

11 He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’

他把我的腳縛在木樁上，窺察我的一切行動。」

12 “Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.

我答覆你說：你這話說的不對，因為天主遠超世人。

13 Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?

他既不答覆你說的一切話，你為何還同他爭辯﹖

14 For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.

原來天主用一種方法向人講話，人若不理會，他再用另一種方法：

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,

天主有時藉夢和夜間的異像，當人躺在床上沉睡的時候，

16 then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,

開啟人的聽覺，用異像驚嚇他，

17 that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

使人脫離惡念，使人剷除驕傲，

18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

阻攔他陷於陰府，救他的性命脫離溝壑。

19 “He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,

天主也有時懲罰人在床上受痛苦，使他的骨頭不斷的刺痛，

20 so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.

以致他討厭食物，他的心厭惡美味。

21 His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.

他身上的肉已消逝不見，他枯瘦的骨頭，已開始外露。

22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

他的靈魂已臨近墓穴，他的生命已接近死亡之所。

23 “If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,

一千天使中，若有一個在他身傍，作他的代言人，提醒他應行的義務，

24 then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’

且憐憫那人，為他轉求說：「求你拯救他，以免陷於陰府，因為我已找到了贖金。」

25 His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.

他的肉身比少年人的肉身必更健美，他的青春歲月又恢復了。

26 He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.

他祈求天主，必獲得悅納。他必歡樂得見天主的儀容，天主也必恢復他的正義。

27 He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.

那時，他將在人前重述所經歷的事說：「我犯了罪，顛倒了是非，但他沒有照我的罪罰我。

28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’

他救了我生命免入陰府，使我重見光明。」

29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,

這就是天主接二連三為人所做的事，

30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

挽救他脫離陰府，重見生命之光。

31 Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.

約伯啊! 請留神傾聽，靜靜地聽我說話!

32 If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.

你若有話說，請即回覆我，你儘管說，因為我願聽你的理。

33 If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”

若沒有話，且聽我說，靜聽我要教給你的智慧。