1 But Job answered and said, 2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! 3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. 4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. 5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder? 6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? 7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! 9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! 10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One. 11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life? 12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass? 13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. 15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away; 16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid: 17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. 18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish. 19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. 20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed. 21 For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance? 23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty? 24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. 25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? 26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind? 27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend. 28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie. 29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. 30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
1 于是约伯回答说：
2 "但愿称称我的烦恼， 把我的灾害一起放在天平上。
3 现在这些都比海沙更重， 所以我冒失发言。
4 因为全能者的箭射中我， 我的灵喝尽了箭的毒液， 神的惊吓排阵攻击我。
5 野驴有草料还会哀鸣吗？牛有饲料还会穷叫吗？
6 淡而无盐的食物有什么好吃呢？蛋白有什么味道呢？
7 这些使我恶心的食物， 我必不肯尝。
8 但愿我得着我所祈求的， 愿 神赐我所盼望的。
9 愿他乐意把我压碎， 愿他放手把我剪除。
10 这样， 我们得安慰， 在痛苦之中我还可以欢跃， 因为我没有否认那圣者的言语。
11 我有什么力量使我能等候呢？我的结局是什么好叫我忍耐呢？
12 我的气力是石头一样吗？我的肉身是铜的吗？
13 我里面不是无能自助吗？见识不是离我而去吗？
14 朋友应该怜悯灰心的人， 因为他舍弃了对全能者的敬畏。
15 我的兄弟诡诈像干涸的溪流， 又像流干的溪水；
16 水流因冰块融化而混浊， 有雪隐藏在其中。
17 天气一暖溪水就消失， 气候一热就干涸。
18 商队顺溪而行， 结果偏离原道， 走到荒野之地而死亡。
19 提玛的商队瞻望溪水， 示巴的客旅等候水流。
20 他们失望， 因为所盼望的落了空； 他们到达那里就灰心。
21 现在你们就是这样， 看见我的灾难就害怕。
22 难道我说过‘请供给我’， 或说‘取你们的财物馈赠我’吗？
23 或我说过‘救我脱离敌人的手’， 或说‘赎我脱离强暴人的手’吗？
24 请指教， 我就默不作声； 请指示， 我有什么过错。
25 正直的言语多么有力！ 但你们的责备究竟责备什么呢？
26 绝望人的话不过是风， 你们还想批判吗？
27 你们竟抽签得孤儿， 拿朋友当货物。
28 现在请你们看看我， 我绝不当你们的面撒谎。
29 请转意， 不要不公道； 请再转意， 我还有道理在。
30 我的舌上有不义吗？我的口不能辨别灾害吗？"