Job

約伯回答說：

But Job answered and said,

惟願我的煩惱稱一稱，我一切的災害放在天平裡；

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! {laid: Heb. lifted up}

現今都比海沙更重，所以我的言語急躁。

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. {my words...: that is, I want words to express my grief}

因全能者的箭射入我身；其毒，我的靈喝盡了；神的驚嚇擺陣攻擊我。

For the arrows of the Almighty {are} within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

野驢有草豈能叫喚？牛有料豈能吼叫？

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder? {when he...: Heb. at grass?}

物淡而無鹽豈可吃麼？蛋青有甚麼滋味呢？

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there {any} taste in the white of an egg?

看為可厭的食物，我心不肯挨近。

The things {that} my soul refused to touch {are} as my sorrowful meat.

惟願我得著所求的，願神賜我所切望的!

Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant {me} the thing that I long for! {the thing...: Heb. my expectation}

就是願神把我壓碎，伸手將我剪除。

Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

我因沒有違棄那聖者的言語，就仍以此為安慰，在不止息的痛苦中還可踴躍。

Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

我有甚麼氣力使我等候？我有甚麼結局使我忍耐？

What {is} my strength, that I should hope? and what {is} mine end, that I should prolong my life?

我的氣力豈是石頭的氣力？我的肉身豈是銅的呢？

{Is} my strength the strength of stones? or {is} my flesh of brass? {of brass: Heb. brasen?}

在我豈不是毫無幫助麼？智慧豈不是從我心中趕出淨盡麼？

{Is} not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

那將要灰心、離棄全能者、不敬畏神的人，他的朋友當以慈愛待他。

To him that is afflicted pity {should be shewed} from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. {is afflicted: Heb. melteth}

我的弟兄詭詐，好像溪水，又像溪水流乾的河道。

My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, {and} as the stream of brooks they pass away;

這河因結冰發黑，有雪藏在其中；

Which are blackish by reason of the ice, {and} wherein the snow is hid:

天氣漸暖就隨時消化，日頭炎熱便從原處乾涸。

What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. {vanish: Heb. are cut off} {when...: Heb. in the heat thereof} {consumed: Heb. extinguished}

結伴的客旅離棄大道，順河偏行，到荒野之地死亡。

The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

提瑪結伴的客旅瞻望；示巴同夥的人等候。

The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

他們因失了盼望就抱愧，來到那裡便蒙羞。

They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

現在你們正是這樣，看見驚嚇的事便懼怕。

For now ye are nothing; ye see {my} casting down, and are afraid. {ye are...: or, ye are like to them: Heb. to it} {nothing: Heb. not}

我豈說：請你們供給我，從你們的財物中送禮物給我？

Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

豈說：拯救我脫離敵人的手麼？救贖我脫離強暴人的手麼？

Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

請你們教導我，我便不作聲；使我明白在何事上有錯。

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

正直的言語力量何其大！但你們責備是責備甚麼呢？

How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

絕望人的講論既然如風，你們還想要駁正言語麼？

Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, {which are} as wind?

你們想為孤兒拈鬮，以朋友當貨物。

Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig {a pit} for your friend. {ye overwhelm: Heb. ye cause to fall upon}

現在請你們看看我，我決不當面說謊。

Now therefore be content, look upon me; for {it is} evident unto you if I lie. {evident...: Heb. before your face}

請你們轉意，不要不公；請再轉意，我的事有理。

Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness {is} in it. {in it: that is, in this matter}

我的舌上豈有不義麼？我的口裡豈不辨奸惡麼？

Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things? {my taste: Heb. my palate}