約伯的回答

16 約伯回答說:

「這些話,我聽過很多,
你們安慰人,反讓人愁煩。
你們的空談無休無止嗎?
是什麼惹你們說個不停?
倘若你我易地而處,
我也能說你們那樣的話,
滔滔不絕地攻擊你們,
向你們搖頭。
我會對你們講鼓勵的話,
用勸慰之言減輕你們的痛苦。

「我若申辯,痛苦不減;
我若緘默,痛苦猶在。
上帝啊,你使我精疲力竭,
家破人亡,
你榨乾了我,
使我骨瘦如柴,
這成了我的罪證。
上帝在憤怒中撕裂我,迫害我,
向我咬牙切齒;
仇敵惡狠狠地盯著我。
10 他們嘲笑我,
輕蔑地摑我的臉,
聯合起來攻擊我。
11 上帝把我交給罪人,
把我扔到惡人手中。
12 我本來平順,祂擊垮了我,
祂抓住我的頸項將我摔碎,
把我當祂的箭靶。
13 祂的弓箭手四面圍住我,
祂毫不留情地刺透我的腎臟,
使我肝膽塗地。
14 祂一次次地擊傷我,
像勇士一樣撲向我。
15 我縫製麻衣,披在身上,
把我的榮耀埋在塵土中。
16 我哭得臉頰紅腫,
眼皮發黑。
17 但我未行殘暴之事,
我的禱告純真。

18 「大地啊!不要掩蓋我的血,
不要攔阻我的呼求。
19 此時,我的見證人在天上,
我的辯護者在高天上。
20 我的朋友譏笑我,
我在上帝面前流淚。
21 但願人與上帝之間有仲裁者,
如同人與人之間。
22 因為我的年日不多,
我快要踏上不歸路。

16 Then Job answered and said,

I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

Job Replies: Miserable Comforters Are You

16 Then Job answered and said:

“I have heard (A)many such things;
    (B)miserable comforters are you all.
Shall (C)windy words have an end?
    Or what provokes you that you answer?
I also could speak as you do,
    if you were in my place;
I could join words together against you
    and (D)shake my head at you.
I could strengthen you with my mouth,
    and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.

“If I speak, my pain is not assuaged,
    and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?
Surely now God has worn me out;
    (E)he has[a] made desolate all my company.
And he has shriveled me up,
    which is (F)a witness against me,
and my (G)leanness has risen up against me;
    it testifies to my face.
He has (H)torn me in his wrath (I)and hated me;
    he has (J)gnashed his teeth at me;
    my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.
10 Men have (K)gaped at me with their mouth;
    they have (L)struck me insolently on the cheek;
    they (M)mass themselves together against me.
11 God gives me up to the ungodly
    and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart;
    he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces;
he set me up as his (N)target;
13     his (O)archers surround me.
He slashes open my kidneys (P)and does not spare;
    he (Q)pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He breaks me with (R)breach upon breach;
    he (S)runs upon me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed (T)sackcloth upon my skin
    and have laid (U)my strength (V)in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping,
    and on my eyelids is (W)deep darkness,
17 although there is no (X)violence in my hands,
    and my prayer is pure.

18 “O earth, (Y)cover not my blood,
    and let my (Z)cry find no resting place.
19 Even now, behold, my (AA)witness is in heaven,
    and he who testifies for me is (AB)on high.
20 My friends (AC)scorn me;
    my eye pours out tears to God,
21 that he would (AD)argue the case of a man with God,
    as[b] a son of man does with his neighbor.
22 For when a few years have come
    I shall go the way (AE)from which I shall not return.

Footnotes

  1. Job 16:7 Hebrew you have; also verse 8
  2. Job 16:21 Hebrew and

Job

16 Then Job replied:

“I have heard many things like these;
    you are miserable comforters,(A) all of you!(B)
Will your long-winded speeches never end?(C)
    What ails you that you keep on arguing?(D)
I also could speak like you,
    if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
    and shake my head(E) at you.
But my mouth would encourage you;
    comfort(F) from my lips would bring you relief.(G)

“Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
    and if I refrain, it does not go away.(H)
Surely, God, you have worn me out;(I)
    you have devastated my entire household.(J)
You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
    my gauntness(K) rises up and testifies against me.(L)
God assails me and tears(M) me in his anger(N)
    and gnashes his teeth at me;(O)
    my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.(P)
10 People open their mouths(Q) to jeer at me;(R)
    they strike my cheek(S) in scorn
    and unite together against me.(T)
11 God has turned me over to the ungodly
    and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.(U)
12 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
    he seized me by the neck and crushed me.(V)
He has made me his target;(W)
13     his archers surround me.(X)
Without pity, he pierces(Y) my kidneys
    and spills my gall on the ground.
14 Again and again(Z) he bursts upon me;
    he rushes at me like a warrior.(AA)

15 “I have sewed sackcloth(AB) over my skin
    and buried my brow in the dust.(AC)
16 My face is red with weeping,(AD)
    dark shadows ring my eyes;(AE)
17 yet my hands have been free of violence(AF)
    and my prayer is pure.(AG)

18 “Earth, do not cover my blood;(AH)
    may my cry(AI) never be laid to rest!(AJ)
19 Even now my witness(AK) is in heaven;(AL)
    my advocate is on high.(AM)
20 My intercessor(AN) is my friend[a](AO)
    as my eyes pour out(AP) tears(AQ) to God;
21 on behalf of a man he pleads(AR) with God
    as one pleads for a friend.

22 “Only a few years will pass
    before I take the path of no return.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. Job 16:20 Or My friends treat me with scorn