1 And Job answered and said,
2 Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!
4 I would order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;
5 I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Would he plead against me with {his} great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.
7 There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold {him} not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see {him} not.
10 But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.
13 But he is in one {mind}, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.
14 For he will perform {what} is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.
16 For *God hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.
1 约伯回答说：
2 "直到今日我还有苦情要申诉， 我虽然叹息， 他的手仍然沉重。
3 但愿我知道怎样能寻见 神， 能到他的台前来。
4 好让我在他面前呈上我的案件， 满口辩论向他申诉；
5 知道他要回答我的话， 明白他对我说什么。
6 他会以大能与我相争吗？必不会这样， 他必关怀我。
7 在他那里正直人可以与他彼此辩论， 这样， 我就必永远摆脱那审判我的。
8 可是我往前走， 他不在那里； 我若往后退， 我也不能见他。
9 他在左边行事， 我却见不到； 他在右边隐藏， 我却看不见。
10 可是他知道我所行的道路， 他试炼我以后， 我必像精金出现。
11 我的脚紧随他的脚步， 我谨守他的道， 并不偏离。
12 他嘴唇的命令我没有离弃， 我珍藏他口中的言语在我的怀里， 胜过我需用的饮食。
13 但是他既已定意， 谁能使他转意呢？他心里所愿的， 就行出来。
14 他为我所定的， 他必成全， 这类的事情， 他还有许多。
15 因此我在他面前惊惶， 一想到这事， 我就惧怕他。
16 神使我心里胆怯， 全能者使我惊惶，
17 因为我在黑暗面前并没有被消灭， 也不怕幽暗遮盖着我的脸。"