Job’s Reply
1Job replied,
2“Even today my problems are more than I can handle.
In spite of my groans, God’s hand is heavy on me.
3I wish I knew where I could find him!
I wish I could go to the place where he lives!
4I would state my case to him.
I’d give him all my arguments.
5I’d find out what his answers would be.
I’d think about what he would say to me.
6Would he strongly oppose me?
No. He wouldn’t bring charges against me.
7There honest people can prove to him they’re not guilty.
There my Judge would tell me once and for all that I’m not guilty.
8“But if I go to the east, God isn’t there.
If I go to the west, I don’t find him.
9When he’s working in the north, I don’t see him there.
When he turns to the south, I don’t see him there either.
10But he knows every step I take.
When he has tested me,
I’ll come out as pure as gold.
11My feet have closely followed his steps.
I’ve stayed on his path without turning away.
12I haven’t disobeyed his commands.
I’ve treasured his words more than my daily bread.
13“But he’s the only God. Who can oppose him?
He does anything he wants to do.
14He carries out his plans against me.
And he still has many other plans just like them.
15That’s why I’m so terrified.
When I think about all of this, I’m afraid of him.
16God has made my heart weak.
The Mighty One has filled me with terror.
17But even the darkness of death won’t make me silent.
When the darkness of the grave covers my face, I won’t be quiet.
约伯的回答
1约伯回答说：
2“我的哀诉至今充满苦楚，
祂的责罚使我呻吟不止。
3但愿我知道何处能寻见上帝，
知道怎样去祂的居所。
4我好在祂面前陈明案情，
滔滔不绝地为自己申辩；
5我好知道祂的答复，
看看祂对我说什么。
6祂会用大能与我争辩吗？
不会的，祂会垂听我的申诉，
7允许正直的人与祂理论，
审判者会让我永远脱罪。
8“然而，我去东边，祂不在那里；
我到西边，也找不到祂。
9祂在北边工作，我看不见祂；
祂转到南边，我也看不见祂。
10但祂知道我的一举一动，
我被祂试炼后必如纯金。
11我紧随祂的脚步，
持守祂的道，没有偏离。
12我没有违背祂的诫命，
我珍视祂的话语胜过我日用的饮食。
13祂独行其事，谁能阻挡祂？
祂按自己的意愿行事。
14祂在我身上的计划必然实现，
祂还有许多这样的计划。
15所以，我在祂面前惊恐不安。
我想起这事，便对祂充满恐惧。
16上帝使我心惊胆战，
全能者使我惊恐不安。
17然而，我不会因为置身黑暗，
被幽暗笼罩而缄默不言。
