1 And Job answered and said,
2 Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with *God?
3 If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?
5 Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
6 Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
7 Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
9 Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10 Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see {him} not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
12 Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13 +God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
14 How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words {to strive} with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, {yet} would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, -
17 He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
19 Be it a question of strength, lo, {he is} strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
20 If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
21 Were I perfect, {yet} would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.
24 The earth is given over into the hand of the wicked {man}; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?
25 And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my {sad} countenance, and brighten up,
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
31 Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him; that we should come together in judgment.
33 There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid,
35 {Then} I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
1 约伯回答说：
2 "我实在知道是这样， 但是， 人在 神面前怎能算为公义呢？
3 人若愿意与他辩论， 连千分之一也答不出来。
4 他心里有智慧， 而且有极大的能力， 有谁对他刚硬而平安无事呢？
5 他在怒中移山翻冈； 山冈却不知道；
6 他使大地震动离开本处， 大地的柱子就摇撼；
7 他吩咐太阳， 太阳就不上升， 又封闭众星；
8 他独自铺开苍天， 步行在海浪之上；
9 他造北斗与参星， 昴星和南方的星座；
10 他所行的大事无法测度， 所行的奇事不可胜数。
11 他行过我身边， 我却看不见； 他掠过去， 我竟不觉察。
12 他夺取， 谁能拦阻他？谁敢问他： ‘你干什么？’
13 神必不抑制他的怒气， 海怪拉哈伯的助手都俯伏在他以下。
14 何况我呢？我怎敢回答他， 措辞与他辩论呢？
15 即使我有理， 也不敢回答， 只向那审判我的求怜悯；
16 即使我呼求， 他也回答我， 我还是不信他会垂听我的声音。
17 他用暴风伤害我， 无缘无故加添我的创伤。
18 他不让我喘一口气， 却使我饱尝苦楚。
19 若论力量， 他多么强大， 若论诉讼， 他说： ‘谁能把我传来？’
20 即使我有理， 我的口还是定我有罪； 即使我完全， 我的口还是判我乖谬。
21 我虽然完全， 却不顾我自己， 倒厌恶我的生命。
22 所以我说， 善恶都是一样， 完全人和恶人， 他都灭尽。
23 灾祸忽然把人杀害的时候， 他就必嘲笑无辜人的遭遇。
24 全世界交在恶人的手中， 他蒙蔽世上审判官的脸， 如果不是他， 那么是谁呢？
25 我的日子过得比信差还快， 飞快逝去， 不见福乐。
26 我的日子消逝有如快船， 好像俯冲猛扑食物的鹰。
27 我若说： ‘我要忘记我的苦情， 要除去愁容， 面露喜乐。’
28 我就惧怕我的一切痛苦， 因为我知道你必不以我为无辜。
29 我既然被定为有罪， 又何必徒然劳苦呢？
30 我若用雪水洗净我的身， 又用碱水洁净我的手，
31 你还是把我扔入坑中， 连我的衣服也憎恶我。
32 他不像我是个人， 使我可以答他， 让我们一起对簿公堂。
33 我俩之间并没有仲裁者， 能够按手在我们双方身上。
34 愿他使他的刑杖离开我， 愿他可畏的威严不惊吓我，
35 我就说话， 也不怕他， 因为我本身并不是这种人。"