Job 21

1 Then Job answered:

1 約伯回答說：

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

2 你們要細聽我的言語， 就算是你們安慰我。

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

3 請寬容我，我又要說話； 說了以後，任憑你們嗤笑吧！

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

4 我豈是向人訴冤？ 為何不焦急呢？

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

5 你們要看着我而驚奇， 用手摀口。

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

6 我每逢思想，心就驚惶， 渾身戰兢。

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

7 惡人為何存活， 享大壽數，勢力強盛呢？

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

8 他們眼見兒孫， 和他們一同堅立。

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

9 他們的家宅平安無懼； 上帝的杖也不加在他們身上。

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

10 他們的公牛孳生而不斷絕； 母牛下犢而不掉胎。

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

11 他們打發小孩子出去，多如羊群； 他們的兒女踴躍跳舞。

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

12 他們隨着琴鼓歌唱， 又因簫聲歡喜。

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

13 他們度日諸事亨通， 轉眼下入陰間。

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

14 他們對上帝說：離開我們吧！ 我們不願曉得你的道。

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

15 全能者是誰，我們何必事奉他呢？ 求告他有甚麼益處呢？

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

16 看哪，他們亨通不在乎自己； 惡人所謀定的離我好遠。

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

17 惡人的燈何嘗熄滅？ 患難何嘗臨到他們呢？ 上帝何嘗發怒，向他們分散災禍呢？

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

18 他們何嘗像風前的碎稭， 如暴風颳去的糠詷呢？

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 你們說：上帝為惡人的兒女積蓄罪孽； 我說：不如本人受報，好使他親自知道。

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

20 願他親眼看見自己敗亡， 親自飲全能者的忿怒。

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

21 他的歲月既盡， 他還顧他本家嗎？

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

22 上帝既審判那在高位的， 誰能將知識教訓他呢？

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

23 有人至死身體強壯， 盡得平靖安逸；

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

24 他的奶桶充滿， 他的骨髓滋潤。

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

25 有人至死心中痛苦， 終身未嘗福樂的滋味；

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

26 他們一樣躺臥在塵土中， 都被蟲子遮蓋。

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

27 我知道你們的意思， 並誣害我的計謀。

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

28 你們說：霸者的房屋在哪裏？ 惡人住過的帳棚在哪裏？

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

29 你們豈沒有詢問過路的人嗎？ 不知道他們所引的證據嗎？

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

30 就是惡人在禍患的日子得存留， 在發怒的日子得逃脫。

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

31 他所行的，有誰當面給他說明？ 他所做的，有誰報應他呢？

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

32 然而他要被抬到塋地； 並有人看守墳墓。

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

33 他要以谷中的土塊為甘甜； 在他以先去的無數， 在他以後去的更多。

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

34 你們對答的話中既都錯謬， 怎麼徒然安慰我呢？