13 “这一切,我亲眼见过,
亲耳听过,且已明白。
你们知道的我也知道,
我不比你们逊色。
我想和全能者对话,
我渴望跟上帝理论。
而你们只会编造谎言,
都是无用的庸医。
但愿你们闭口不言,
那样还算你们明智。
请听我的申辩,
留心听我的争讼。
你们要为上帝说谎,
为祂说诡诈的话吗?
你们要偏袒上帝吗?
你们要替祂辩护吗?
祂查问你们时岂会有好结果?
你们岂能像欺骗人一样欺骗祂?
10 你们若暗中偏袒,
祂必责备你们。
11 难道你们不怕祂的威严,
不对祂充满恐惧吗?
12 你们的名言是无用的灰尘,
你们的雄辩是土筑的营垒。

13 “你们住口,让我发言;
我愿承担一切后果。
14 我已经豁出性命,
不惜冒生命危险。
15 祂必杀我,我毫无指望,[a]
但我仍要在祂面前申辩。
16 这样我才能得救,
因为不信上帝的人无法到祂面前。
17 请留心听我说话,
侧耳听我发言。
18 看啊,我已准备好辩词,
我知道自己有理。
19 若有人能指控我,
我就缄默,情愿死去。
20 上帝啊,只要你应允两件事,
我就不躲避你的面,
21 求你把手从我身上挪开,
不要用你的威严惊吓我。
22 这样,你传唤我,我必回应;
或者让我陈述,你来回答。
23 我究竟有什么过错和罪恶?
求你指出我的过犯和罪愆。
24 你为何掩面不看我?
为何把我当作仇敌?
25 你要恐吓一片风中的落叶吗?
你要追赶一根枯干的茅草吗?
26 你记下指控我的罪状,
让我承担幼年的罪恶。
27 你给我上了脚镣,
监视我的一举一动,
为我的脚掌设界限。
28 我消逝如朽烂之物,
又如虫蛀的衣服。

Footnotes

  1. 13:15 祂必杀我,我毫无指望”或译“即使祂杀我,我也信靠祂”。

13 “My eyes have seen all this,(A)
    my ears have heard and understood it.
What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.(B)
But I desire to speak to the Almighty(C)
    and to argue my case with God.(D)
You, however, smear me with lies;(E)
    you are worthless physicians,(F) all of you!(G)
If only you would be altogether silent!(H)
    For you, that would be wisdom.(I)
Hear now my argument;
    listen to the pleas of my lips.(J)
Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
    Will you speak deceitfully for him?(K)
Will you show him partiality?(L)
    Will you argue the case for God?
Would it turn out well if he examined you?(M)
    Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?(N)
10 He would surely call you to account
    if you secretly showed partiality.(O)
11 Would not his splendor(P) terrify you?
    Would not the dread of him fall on you?(Q)
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
    your defenses are defenses of clay.(R)

13 “Keep silent(S) and let me speak;(T)
    then let come to me what may.(U)
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
    and take my life in my hands?(V)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope(W) in him;(X)
    I will surely[a] defend my ways to his face.(Y)
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,(Z)
    for no godless(AA) person would dare come before him!(AB)
17 Listen carefully to what I say;(AC)
    let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,(AD)
    I know I will be vindicated.(AE)
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?(AF)
    If so, I will be silent(AG) and die.(AH)

20 “Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
21 Withdraw your hand(AI) far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.(AJ)
22 Then summon me and I will answer,(AK)
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.(AL)
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?(AM)
    Show me my offense and my sin.(AN)
24 Why do you hide your face(AO)
    and consider me your enemy?(AP)
25 Will you torment(AQ) a windblown leaf?(AR)
    Will you chase(AS) after dry chaff?(AT)
26 For you write down bitter things against me
    and make me reap the sins of my youth.(AU)
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;(AV)
    you keep close watch on all my paths(AW)
    by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

28 “So man wastes away like something rotten,
    like a garment(AX) eaten by moths.(AY)

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:15 Or He will surely slay me; I have no hope — / yet I will

13 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.