1「這一切，我親眼見過，
親耳聽過，且已明白。
2你們知道的我也知道，
我不比你們遜色。
3我想和全能者對話，
我渴望跟上帝理論。
4而你們只會編造謊言，
都是無用的庸醫。
5但願你們閉口不言，
那樣還算你們明智。
6請聽我的申辯，
留心聽我的爭訟。
7你們要為上帝說謊，
為祂說詭詐的話嗎？
8你們要偏袒上帝嗎？
你們要替祂辯護嗎？
9祂查問你們時豈會有好結果？
你們豈能像欺騙人一樣欺騙祂？
10你們若暗中偏袒，
祂必責備你們。
11難道你們不怕祂的威嚴，
不對祂充滿恐懼嗎？
12你們的名言是無用的灰塵，
你們的雄辯是土築的營壘。
13「你們住口，讓我發言；
我願承擔一切後果。
14我已經豁出性命，
不惜冒生命危險。
15祂必殺我，我毫無指望，13·15 「祂必殺我，我毫無指望」或譯「即使祂殺我，我也信靠祂」。
但我仍要在祂面前申辯。
16這樣我才能得救，
因為不信上帝的人無法到祂面前。
17請留心聽我說話，
側耳聽我發言。
18看啊，我已準備好辯詞，
我知道自己有理。
19若有人能指控我，
我就緘默，情願死去。
20上帝啊，只要你應允兩件事，
我就不躲避你的面，
21求你把手從我身上挪開，
不要用你的威嚴驚嚇我。
22這樣，你傳喚我，我必回應；
或者讓我陳述，你來回答。
23我究竟有什麼過錯和罪惡？
求你指出我的過犯和罪愆。
24你為何掩面不看我？
為何把我當作仇敵？
25你要恐嚇一片風中的落葉嗎？
你要追趕一根枯乾的茅草嗎？
26你記下指控我的罪狀，
讓我承擔幼年的罪惡。
27你給我上了腳鐐，
監視我的一舉一動，
為我的腳掌設界限。
28我消逝如朽爛之物，
又如蟲蛀的衣服。
1Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. 2What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. 3Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. 4But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. 5O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. 6Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. 7Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? 8Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? 9Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? 10He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. 11Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? 12Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
13Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.13.13 Hold…: Heb. Be silent from me 14Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? 15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.13.15 maintain: Heb. prove, or, argue 16He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. 17Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. 18Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. 19Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. 20Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee. 21Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid. 22Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. 24Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? 25Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? 26For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. 27Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.13.27 lookest…: Heb. observest13.27 heels: Heb. roots 28And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
