1 Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear mine utterances, and hearken to all my words.
2 Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my palate,
3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge purely.
4 The Spirit of *God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
5 If thou canst, answer me; array {thy words} before me: take thy stand.
6 Behold, before *God I am as thou; I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor my burden be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of {thy} words: -
9 I am clean without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me;
10 Lo, he findeth occasions of hostility against me, he counteth me for his enemy;
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 Behold, I will answer thee in this, thou art not right; for +God is greater than man.
13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14 For *God speaketh once, and twice, -{and man} perceiveth it not-
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 Then he openeth men's ears, and sealeth their instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man {from his} work, and hide pride from man.
18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with constant strife in his bones;
20 And his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty food;
21 His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out;
22 And his soul draweth near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his duty;
24 Then he will be gracious unto him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 His flesh shall be fresher than in childhood; he shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He shall pray unto +God, and he will receive him with favour; and he shall see his face with shoutings, and he will render unto man his righteousness.
27 He will sing before men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it hath not been requited to me;
28 He hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light.
29 Lo, all these {things} worketh *God twice, thrice, with man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, Job, hearken unto me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 If thou hast anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 If not, hearken thou unto me; be silent, and I will teach thee wisdom.
1 "可是， 约伯啊， 请听我的言语， 留心听我的一切话。
2 我现在开口， 用舌头发言；
3 我的话表明我心中的正直， 我所知道的， 我的嘴唇就诚诚实实地说出来。
4 神的灵创造了我， 全能者的气使我存活。
5 你若能够办得到， 就回答我， 用话语攻击我， 表明立场， 当面攻击我。
6 在 神面前我与你一样， 也是用土捏造的。
7 我的威严必不惊吓你， 我的压力也不加重在你身上。
8 你所说的， 我已经听见了， 也听到你言语的声音， 说：
9 ‘我是洁净的， 毫无过犯； 我是清白的， 没有罪孽。
10 神找机会攻击我， 把我当作仇敌；
11 他把我的两脚上了木狗， 又鉴察我一切所行的。’
12 我要告诉你， 你这话错了， 因为 神比世人大。
13 你为什么对 神争辩， 说： ‘无论世人的什么话， 他都不回答’呢？
14 原来 神用这个方法或那个方法说了， 只是， 世人没有留意。
15 世人都在床上打盹， 沉睡临到他们的时候， 神用异梦与夜间的异象，
16 告诉他们， 他坚定他们所得的训诲，
17 好叫人离开自己的恶行， 又叫人与骄傲隔绝，
18 拦阻人的性命不下在坑里， 又阻止他的生命不死在刀下。
19 人在床上被痛苦惩治， 他的骨头不住地痛苦挣扎，
20 以致他的生命厌恶食物， 他的胃口也厌恶美食，
21 他的肌肉消瘦以致看不见， 以前看不见的骨头， 现在都凸出来。
22 他的性命接近深坑， 他的生命靠近灭命的天使。
23 在一千位天使之中， 若有一位作人的中保， 指示人当行的事，
24 恩待他， 说： ‘救赎他免下深坑； 我已经得到了赎价。’
25 他的肌肉就比孩童的更嫩， 他更恢复满有青春活力的日子。
26 他向 神祈求， 神就喜悦他， 他也欢呼着朝见 神的面， 人又恢复自己的义。
27 他在人面前歌唱， 说： ‘我犯了罪， 颠倒是非， 但我没有受到应得的报应。
28 他救赎我的性命免入深坑， 我的生命必得见光明。’
29 神总是三番四次， 向人行这一切事，
30 要把人的性命从深坑里救回来， 好使活人之光光照他。
31 约伯啊， 你当留心听我， 当默不作声， 我要说话。
32 你若有话说， 就请回答我； 你只管说吧， 因为我愿意以你为义。
33 你若没有话说， 就要听我说， 你当默不作声， 我就把智慧教导你。"