< Job 38 >

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,
那時,耶和華從旋風中回答約伯說:
2 “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
誰用無知的言語使我的旨意暗昧不明?
3 Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!
你要如勇士束腰; 我問你,你可以指示我。
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
我立大地根基的時候,你在哪裏呢? 你若有聰明,只管說吧!
5 Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?
你若曉得就說,是誰定地的尺度? 是誰把準繩拉在其上?
6 What were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone,
地的根基安置在何處? 地的角石是誰安放的?
7 when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
那時,晨星一同歌唱; 上帝的眾子也都歡呼。
8 “Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke out of the womb,
海水衝出,如出胎胞, 那時誰將它關閉呢?
9 when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,
是我用雲彩當海的衣服, 用幽暗當包裹它的布,
10 marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors,
為它定界限, 又安門和閂,
11 and said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here’?
說:你只可到這裏,不可越過; 你狂傲的浪要到此止住。
12 “Have you commanded the morning in your days, and caused the dawn to know its place,
你自生以來,曾命定晨光, 使清晨的日光知道本位,
13 that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?
叫這光普照地的四極, 將惡人從其中驅逐出來嗎?
14 It is changed as clay under the seal, and presented as a garment.
因這光,地面改變如泥上印印, 萬物出現如衣服一樣。
15 From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.
亮光不照惡人; 強橫的膀臂也必折斷。
16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?
你曾進到海源, 或在深淵的隱密處行走嗎?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
死亡的門曾向你顯露嗎? 死蔭的門你曾見過嗎?
18 Have you comprehended the earth in its width? Declare, if you know it all.
地的廣大你能明透嗎? 你若全知道,只管說吧!
19 “What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,
光明的居所從何而至? 黑暗的本位在於何處?
20 that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?
你能帶到本境, 能看明其室之路嗎?
21 Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
你總知道, 因為你早已生在世上, 你日子的數目也多。
22 Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
你曾進入雪庫, 或見過雹倉嗎?
23 which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
這雪雹乃是我為降災, 並打仗和爭戰的日子所預備的。
24 By what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?
光亮從何路分開? 東風從何路分散遍地?
25 Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm,
誰為雨水分道? 誰為雷電開路?
26 to cause it to rain on a land where there is no man, on the wilderness, in which there is no man,
使雨降在無人之地、 無人居住的曠野?
27 to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to grow?
使荒廢淒涼之地得以豐足, 青草得以發生?
28 Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?
雨有父嗎? 露水珠是誰生的呢?
29 Whose womb did the ice come out of? Who has given birth to the grey frost of the sky?
冰出於誰的胎? 天上的霜是誰生的呢?
30 The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.
諸水堅硬如石頭; 深淵之面凝結成冰。
31 “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
你能繫住昴星的結嗎? 能解開參星的帶嗎?
32 Can you lead the constellations out in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?
你能按時領出十二宮嗎? 能引導北斗和隨它的眾星嗎?
33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?
你知道天的定例嗎? 能使地歸在天的權下嗎?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?
你能向雲彩揚起聲來, 使傾盆的雨遮蓋你嗎?
35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
你能發出閃電,叫它行去, 使它對你說:我們在這裏?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?
誰將智慧放在懷中? 誰將聰明賜於心內?
37 Who can count the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the containers of the sky,
誰能用智慧數算雲彩呢? 塵土聚集成團,土塊緊緊結連; 那時,誰能傾倒天上的瓶呢?
38 when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together?
39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
母獅子在洞中蹲伏, 少壯獅子在隱密處埋伏; 你能為牠們抓取食物, 使牠們飽足嗎?
40 when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?
41 Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
烏鴉之雛因無食物飛來飛去,哀告上帝; 那時,誰為牠預備食物呢?

< Job 38 >