1But Job answered and said, 2Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. 3Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. 4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?21.4 troubled: Heb. shortened? 5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.21.5 Mark…: Heb. Look unto me 6Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.21.9 safe…: Heb. peace from 10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.21.13 in wealth: or, in mirth 14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? 16Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.21.17 candle: or, lamp 18They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.21.18 carrieth: Heb. stealeth 19God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.21.19 his iniquity: that is, the punishment of his iniquity 20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. 21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? 22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. 23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.21.23 his…: Heb. his very, or, the strength of, his perfection 24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.21.24 breasts: or, milk pails 25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. 26They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. 28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?21.28 the dwelling…: Heb. the tent of the tabernacles 29Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, 30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.21.30 wrath: Heb. wraths 31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? 32Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.21.32 grave: Heb. graves21.32 remain…: Heb. watch in the heap 33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. 34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?21.34 falsehood: Heb. transgression?
约伯的回答
1约伯回答说：
2“你们仔细听我说，
便是给我的慰藉。
3请容忍我把话说完，
之后任凭你们嘲笑。
4我岂是向人抱怨？
我有理由不耐烦。
5你们看到我会大吃一惊，
吓得用手掩口。
6我一想到自己，就心惊胆战，
浑身发抖。
7为何恶人活着，得享长寿，
势力强大？
8他们的儿孙围绕膝前，
他们得见后代茁壮成长。
9他们家中平安无惧，
他们不被上帝杖打。
10他们的公牛繁殖力强，
他们的母牛从不掉胎。
11他们让孩童像羊群一样走到户外，
尽情地欢跳。
12他们伴着铃鼓和竖琴歌唱，
在笛声中欢喜不已。
13他们一生幸福，
安然下到阴间。
14他们对上帝说，‘离开我们，
我们不想学习你的道。
15全能者是谁，竟要我们事奉祂？
向祂祷告有何益处？’
16看啊，他们的幸福不在他们手中；
因此，我决不苟同他们的想法。
17“恶人的灯何曾熄灭？
灾难何曾临到他们？
上帝何曾发怒使他们受苦？
18他们何曾像风中的碎秸，
像被暴风卷去的糠秕？
19你们说上帝会把惩罚留给他们的儿女，
我认为不如报应在他们本人身上，
让他们亲自领教。
20愿他们亲眼看见自己灭亡。
愿他们喝下全能者的烈怒。
21因为他们的岁月一旦度尽，
又怎会关心身后的家人？
22“上帝既审判身居高位者，
谁还能传授知识给祂？
23有人至死仍充满活力，
尽享平靖安逸。
24他营养充足，
骨骼健壮。
25有人至死心中苦痛，
从未尝过幸福的滋味。
26二者都埋入尘土，
被蛆虫覆盖。
27我知道你们的想法，
并那些冤枉我的诡计。
28你们问，‘权贵的房子如今何在？
恶人住的帐篷今在何方？’
29难道你们没有问过旅客，
不接受他们的说法？
30就是恶人在灾难之日得到幸免，
在上帝发怒之日得以逃脱。
31谁会当面斥责他们的恶行，
因其所作所为而报应他们？
32他们被抬入坟墓后，
还有人看守墓地。
33他们在谷中的沃土安息，
送葬的人前呼后拥，不计其数。
34你们的空谈怎能安慰我？
你们的回答纯属荒谬。”
