Job 21

1 Then Job answered:

1 约伯回答说：

2 “Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me.

2 你们要细听我的言语， 就算是你们安慰我。

3 Bear with me while I speak; then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking.

3 请宽容我，我又要说话； 说了以后，任凭你们嗤笑吧！

4 Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?

4 我岂是向人诉冤？ 为何不焦急呢？

5 Look at me and be appalled; put your hand over your mouth.

5 你们要看着我而惊奇， 用手捂口。

6 When I remember, terror takes hold, and my body trembles in horror.

6 我每逢思想，心就惊惶， 浑身战兢。

7 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

7 恶人为何存活， 享大寿数，势力强盛呢？

8 Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes.

8 他们眼见儿孙， 和他们一同坚立。

9 Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them.

9 他们的家宅平安无惧； 神的杖也不加在他们身上。

10 Their bulls breed without fail; their cows bear calves and do not miscarry.

10 他们的公牛孳生而不断绝； 母牛下犊而不掉胎。

11 They send forth their little ones like a flock; their children skip about,

11 他们打发小孩子出去，多如羊群； 他们的儿女踊跃跳舞。

12 singing to the tambourine and lyre and making merry at the sound of the flute.

12 他们随着琴鼓歌唱， 又因箫声欢喜。

13 They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace.

13 他们度日诸事亨通， 转眼下入阴间。

14 Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.

14 他们对 神说：离开我们吧！ 我们不愿晓得你的道。

15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’

15 全能者是谁，我们何必事奉他呢？ 求告他有什么益处呢？

16 Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

16 看哪，他们亨通不在乎自己； 恶人所谋定的离我好远。

17 How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?

17 恶人的灯何尝熄灭？ 患难何尝临到他们呢？ 神何尝发怒，向他们分散灾祸呢？

18 Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm?

18 他们何尝像风前的碎秸， 如暴风刮去的糠秕呢？

19 It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.

19 你们说： 神为恶人的儿女积蓄罪孽； 我说：不如本人受报，好使他亲自知道。

20 Let his eyes see his own destruction; let him drink for himself the wrath of the Almighty.

20 愿他亲眼看见自己败亡， 亲自饮全能者的忿怒。

21 For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months has run out?

21 他的岁月既尽， 他还顾他本家吗？

22 Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high?

22 神既审判那在高位的， 谁能将知识教训他呢？

23 One man dies full of vigor, completely secure and at ease.

23 有人至死身体强壮， 尽得平靖安逸；

24 His body is well nourished, and his bones are rich with marrow.

24 他的奶桶充满， 他的骨髓滋润。

25 Yet another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, having never tasted prosperity.

25 有人至死心中痛苦， 终身未尝福乐的滋味；

26 But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.

26 他们一样躺卧在尘土中， 都被虫子遮盖。

27 Behold, I know your thoughts full well, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

27 我知道你们的意思， 并诬害我的计谋。

28 For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’

28 你们说：霸者的房屋在哪里？ 恶人住过的帐棚在哪里？

29 Have you never asked those who travel the roads? Do you not accept their reports?

29 你们岂没有询问过路的人吗？ 不知道他们所引的证据吗？

30 Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, delivered from the day of wrath.

30 就是恶人在祸患的日子得存留， 在发怒的日子得逃脱。

31 Who denounces his behavior to his face? Who repays him for what he has done?

31 他所行的，有谁当面给他说明？ 他所做的，有谁报应他呢？

32 He is carried to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.

32 然而他要被抬到茔地； 并有人看守坟墓。

33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him; everyone follows behind him, and those before him are without number.

33 他要以谷中的土块为甘甜； 在他以先去的无数， 在他以后去的更多。

34 So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.”

34 你们对答的话中既都错谬， 怎么徒然安慰我呢？