1 约伯回答说： 2 "你们真的是有知识的民， 你们死了， 智慧也跟你们一同灭亡。 3 但我也有聪明像你们一样， 我并非不及你们， 像你们所说的这些事， 有谁不晓得呢？ 4 我这求告 神， 又蒙他应允的， 竟成为朋友的笑柄， 公义完全的人竟成为笑柄， 5 平静的人心中藐视灾祸， 作将滑跌者的分。 6 强盗的帐幕兴旺， 惹 神发怒的安稳， 神的手赏赐他们。 7 你且问走兽， 走兽必指教你， 又问空中的飞鸟， 飞鸟必告诉你； 8 或向地说话， 地必指教你， 海中的鱼也必向你说明。 9 从这一切看来， 谁不知道， 是耶和华的手作成这事的呢？ 10 活物的生命与全人类的气息， 都在耶和华的手中。 11 耳朵不是试验说话， 好像上膛尝试食物吗？ 12 你们说： 老年的有智慧， 长寿的有聪明。 13 他有智慧与能力， 又有谋略与聪明。 14 他所拆毁的， 就不能重建， 他所囚禁的， 就不能释放。 15 他若把水阻截， 水就干涸， 他再把水放出， 水就使地翻倒。 16 他有大能与智谋， 受骗的与骗人的， 都是属他的。 17 他把谋士剥衣掳去， 并且愚弄审判官。 18 他解开了君王绑人的绳索， 又用腰布捆绑君王的腰。 19 他把祭司剥衣掳去， 倾覆有权有势的人。 20 他除掉忠信人的言论， 又除去老年人的辨别力。 21 他把羞辱倾倒在王子上， 又松开壮士的腰带。 22 他从黑暗中彰显奥秘， 把死荫领进光中。 23 他使邦国兴盛， 又毁灭他们， 扩张邦国， 又把他们掳去。 24 他除掉地上人民中首领的悟性， 使他们在无路的荒野之地飘流。 25 他们在黑暗无光中摸索， 他使他们飘泊无定像醉汉一样。"

1 And Job answereth and saith: --2 Truly -- ye [are] the people, And with you doth wisdom die.3 I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?4 A laughter to his friend I am: `He calleth to God, and He answereth him,` A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.5 A torch -- despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.6 At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.7 And yet, ask, I pray thee, [One of] the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.8 Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:9 `Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?10 In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.`11 Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?12 With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days understanding.13 With Him [are] wisdom and might, To him [are] counsel and understanding.14 Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth against a man, And it is not opened.15 Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.16 With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.17 Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.18 The bands of kings He hath opened, And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.19 Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.20 Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.21 Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.22 Removing deep things out of darkness, And He bringeth out to light death-shade.23 Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.24 Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy -- no way!25 They feel darkness, and not light, He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.