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.
約伯的回答
1約伯回答說：
2「我的哀訴至今充滿苦楚，
祂的責罰使我呻吟不止。
3但願我知道何處能尋見上帝，
知道怎樣去祂的居所。
4我好在祂面前陳明案情，
滔滔不絕地為自己申辯；
5我好知道祂的答覆，
看看祂對我說什麼。
6祂會用大能與我爭辯嗎？
不會的，祂會垂聽我的申訴，
7允許正直的人與祂理論，
審判者會讓我永遠脫罪。
8「然而，我去東邊，祂不在那裡；
我到西邊，也找不到祂。
9祂在北邊工作，我看不見祂；
祂轉到南邊，我也看不見祂。
10但祂知道我的一舉一動，
我被祂試煉後必如純金。
11我緊隨祂的腳步，
持守祂的道，沒有偏離。
12我沒有違背祂的誡命，
我珍視祂的話語勝過我日用的飲食。
13祂獨行其事，誰能阻擋祂？
祂按自己的意願行事。
14祂在我身上的計劃必然實現，
祂還有許多這樣的計劃。
15所以，我在祂面前驚恐不安。
我想起這事，便對祂充滿恐懼。
16上帝使我心驚膽戰，
全能者使我驚恐不安。
17然而，我不會因為置身黑暗，
被幽暗籠罩而緘默不言。
