1 And Job answered and said,
2 Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
3 Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!
4 As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.
6 Even when I think {thereon}, I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of +God upon them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment go down to Sheol.
14 And they say unto *God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows {to them} in his anger?
18 Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
19 +God layeth up {the punishment of} his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know {it}:
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.
21 For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Can any teach *God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;
25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:
26 Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27 Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?
29 Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:
30 That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
1 约伯回答说：
2 "你们要细听我的言语， 这就算是你们给我的安慰。
3 请原谅我， 我又要说话了， 说完以后， 就任凭你们嘲笑吧！
4 我岂是抱怨的人呢？我的心为什么不能忍耐呢？
5 你们注视我， 惊讶吧， 用手掩口吧。
6 我每逢想起， 就惊惶， 浑身战抖。
7 恶人为什么总可以存活， 活到老， 而且财势强大？
8 他们的后裔在他们面前坚定， 他们眼见自己的子孙在他们周围立定。
9 他们的家宅平安无惧， 神的刑杖也不加在他们身上。
10 他们的公牛交配而不落种， 他们的母牛下犊而不掉胎，
11 他们叫小孩子出去多如羊群， 他们的年轻人四处跳跃；
12 他们跟着琴鼓高歌， 又因着箫的声音欢乐。
13 他们幸福度过他们的日子， 一剎那间下阴间， 毫无病痛。
14 然而他们对 神说： ‘离开我们吧， 我们不愿意晓得你的道路。
15 全能者是谁， 竟要我们服事他呢？我们若向他恳求， 有什么益处呢？’
16 他们的福乐岂不是掌握在他们的手中？恶人的谋算离我很远。
17 恶人的灯何尝熄灭？灾难何尝临到他们身上？神何尝在忿怒中把痛苦分给他们！
18 他们何尝像风前的干草， 何尝像暴风刮去的糠秕？
19 你们说： ‘ 神为恶人的儿女积蓄罪孽’， 我却说： ‘ 神报应他本人， 好叫他自己明白。’
20 愿他亲眼看见自己败落， 愿他喝全能者的烈怒。
21 他的岁月既然断绝， 他还会看顾自己身后的家吗？
22 神既然审判那些在高位的， 谁能把什么知识教给他呢？
23 有人到死的时候仍然气力充足， 享尽平静与安逸；
24 他的奶桶充满鲜奶， 他的骨髓滋润。
25 有人到死的时候心里痛苦， 一生未尝美食；
26 他们都一起躺在尘土中， 虫子爬满他们身上。
27 我知道你们的心思， 与你们恶待我的计谋。
28 你们问： ‘霸王的房屋在哪里？恶人住过的帐棚在哪里？’
29 你们没有问问过路的人吗？不承认他们所提的证据吗？
30 就是恶人在灾难的日子得存留， 在 神发怒的时候得逃脱。
31 他所行的， 有谁敢当面指责他呢？他所作的， 有谁能报应他呢？
32 然而他被人抬到坟墓里， 并且有人看守他的墓地。
33 他以谷中的土块为甘甜， 所有的人跟在他后面， 走在他前面的不计其数。
34 你们的回话既然只存虚假， 怎样徒然安慰我呢？"