今日讀經

烏斯地的完全人約伯

¹烏斯地有一個人名叫約伯；那人完全正直，敬畏　神，遠離惡事。There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.

²他生了七個兒子，三個女兒。He had seven sons and three daughters,

³他的家產有七千羊，三千駱駝，五百對牛，五百母驢，並有許多僕婢。這人在東方人中就為至大。and he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man of all the people of the East.

⁴他的兒子按著日子各在自己家裡設擺筵宴，就打發人去，請了他們的三個姊妹來，與他們一同吃喝。Job’s sons would take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

⁵筵宴的日子過了，約伯打發人去叫他們自潔。他清早起來，按著他們眾人的數目獻燔祭；因為他說：「恐怕我兒子犯了罪，心中棄掉　神。」約伯常常這樣行。And when the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

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天上的對話：敬畏神豈是無故

⁶有一天，　神的眾子來侍立在耶和華面前，撒但也來在其中。One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.

⁷耶和華問撒但說：「你從哪裡來？」撒但回答說：「我從地上走來走去，往返而來。」“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

⁸耶和華問撒但說：「你曾用心察看我的僕人約伯沒有？地上再沒有人像他完全正直，敬畏　神，遠離惡事。」Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.”

⁹撒但回答耶和華說：「約伯敬畏　神，豈是無故呢？Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

¹⁰你豈不是四面圈上籬笆圍護他和他的家，並他一切所有的嗎？他手所做的都蒙你賜福；他的家產也在地上增多。Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

¹¹你且伸手毀他一切所有的；他必當面棄掉你。」But stretch out Your hand and strike all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

¹²耶和華對撒但說：「凡他所有的都在你手中；只是不可伸手加害於他。」於是撒但從耶和華面前退去。“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

一日之間失去一切

¹³有一天，約伯的兒女正在他們長兄的家裡吃飯喝酒，One day, while Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

¹⁴有報信的來見約伯，說：「牛正耕地，驢在旁邊吃草，a messenger came and reported to Job: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,

¹⁵示巴人忽然闖來，把牲畜擄去，並用刀殺了僕人；惟有我一人逃脫，來報信給你。」the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

¹⁶他還說話的時候，又有人來說：「　神從天上降下火來，將群羊和僕人都燒滅了；惟有我一人逃脫，來報信給你。」While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

¹⁷他還說話的時候，又有人來說：「迦勒底人分作三隊忽然闖來，把駱駝擄去，並用刀殺了僕人；惟有我一人逃脫，來報信給你。」While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels, and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

¹⁸他還說話的時候，又有人來說：「你的兒女正在他們長兄的家裡吃飯喝酒，While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

¹⁹不料，有狂風從曠野颳來，擊打房屋的四角，房屋倒塌在少年人身上，他們就都死了；惟有我一人逃脫，來報信給你。」when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

賞賜的是耶和華，收取的也是耶和華

²⁰約伯便起來，撕裂外袍，剃了頭，伏在地上下拜，Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,

²¹說：「我赤身出於母胎，也必赤身歸回；賞賜的是耶和華，收取的也是耶和華。耶和華的名是應當稱頌的。」saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

²²在這一切的事上約伯並不犯罪，也不以　神為愚妄（或譯：也不妄評　神）。In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.

撒但再次控告約伯

¹又有一天，　神的眾子來侍立在耶和華面前，撒但也來在其中。On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him.

²耶和華問撒但說：「你從哪裡來？」撒但回答說：「我從地上走來走去，往返而來。」“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

³耶和華問撒但說：「你曾用心察看我的僕人約伯沒有？地上再沒有人像他完全正直，敬畏　神，遠離惡事。你雖激動我攻擊他，無故地毀滅他，他仍然持守他的純正。」Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”

⁴撒但回答耶和華說：「人以皮代皮，情願捨去一切所有的，保全性命。“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life.

⁵你且伸手傷他的骨頭和他的肉，他必當面棄掉你。」But stretch out Your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

⁶耶和華對撒但說：「他在你手中，只要存留他的性命。」“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.”

約伯長毒瘡，仍不以口犯罪

⁷於是撒但從耶和華面前退去，擊打約伯，使他從腳掌到頭頂長毒瘡。So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

⁸約伯就坐在爐灰中，拿瓦片刮身體。And Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself as he sat among the ashes.

⁹他的妻子對他說：「你仍然持守你的純正嗎？你棄掉　神，死了吧！」Then Job’s wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!”

¹⁰約伯卻對她說：「你說話像愚頑的婦人一樣。噯！難道我們從　神手裡得福，不也受禍嗎？」在這一切的事上約伯並不以口犯罪。“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

三個朋友來陪伴

¹¹約伯的三個朋友─提幔人以利法、書亞人比勒達、拿瑪人瑣法─聽說有這一切的災禍臨到他身上，各人就從本處約會同來，為他悲傷，安慰他。Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.

¹²他們遠遠地舉目觀看，認不出他來，就放聲大哭。各人撕裂外袍，把塵土向天揚起來，落在自己的頭上。When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head.

¹³他們就同他七天七夜坐在地上，一個人也不向他說句話，因為他極其痛苦。Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering was.

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約伯咒詛自己的生日

¹此後，約伯開口咒詛自己的生日，After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

²說：And this is what he said:

³願我生的那日和說懷了男胎的那夜都滅沒。“May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’

⁴願那日變為黑暗；願　神不從上面尋找它；願亮光不照於其上。If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it.

⁵願黑暗和死蔭索取那日；願密雲停在其上；願日蝕恐嚇它。May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.

⁶願那夜被幽暗奪取，不在年中的日子同樂，也不入月中的數目。If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year; may it never be entered in any of the months.

⁷願那夜沒有生育，其間也沒有歡樂的聲音。Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it.

⁸願那咒詛日子且能惹動鱷魚的咒詛那夜。May it be cursed by those who curse the day—those prepared to rouse Leviathan.

⁹願那夜黎明的星宿變為黑暗，盼亮卻不亮，也不見早晨的光線（原文是眼皮）；May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn.

¹⁰因沒有把懷我胎的門關閉，也沒有將患難對我的眼隱藏。For that night did not shut the doors of the womb to hide the sorrow from my eyes.

為何不出母胎而死

¹¹我為何不出母胎而死？為何不出母腹絕氣？Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb?

¹²為何有膝接收我？為何有奶哺養我？Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed?

¹³不然，我就早已躺臥安睡，For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest

¹⁴和地上為自己重造荒邱的君王、謀士，with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves cities now in ruins,

¹⁵或與有金子、將銀子裝滿了房屋的王子一同安息；or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.

¹⁶或像隱而未現、不到期而落的胎，歸於無有，如同未見光的嬰孩。Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, like an infant who never sees daylight?

¹⁷在那裡惡人止息攪擾，困乏人得享安息，There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest.

¹⁸被囚的人同得安逸，不聽見督工的聲音。The captives enjoy their ease; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

¹⁹大小都在那裡；奴僕脫離主人的轄制。Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.

受苦的人為何有生命

²⁰受患難的人為何有光賜給他呢？心中愁苦的人為何有生命賜給他呢？Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,

²¹他們切望死，卻不得死；求死，勝於求隱藏的珍寶。who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure,

²²他們尋見墳墓就快樂，極其歡喜。who rejoice and greatly exult when they reach the grave?

²³人的道路既然遮隱，　神又把他四面圍困，為何有光賜給他呢？Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?

²⁴我未曾吃飯就發出歎息；我唉哼的聲音湧出如水。I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water.

²⁵因我所恐懼的臨到我身，我所懼怕的迎我而來。For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has befallen me.

²⁶我不得安逸，不得平靜，也不得安息，卻有患難來到。I am not at ease or quiet; I have no rest, for trouble has come.”

保羅被帶到公會

³⁰第二天，千夫長為要知道猶太人控告保羅的實情，便解開他，吩咐祭司長和全公會的人都聚集，將保羅帶下來，叫他站在他們面前。The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

大祭司吩咐人打保羅

¹保羅定睛看著公會的人，說：「弟兄們，我在　神面前行事為人都是憑著良心，直到今日。」Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

²大祭司亞拿尼亞就吩咐旁邊站著的人打他的嘴。At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

³保羅對他說：「你這粉飾的牆，　神要打你！你坐堂為的是按律法審問我，你竟違背律法，吩咐人打我嗎？」Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”

⁴站在旁邊的人說：「你辱罵　神的大祭司嗎？」But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”

⁵保羅說：「弟兄們，我不曉得他是大祭司；經上記著說：『不可毀謗你百姓的官長。』」“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

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我是為盼望死人復活受審

⁶保羅看出大眾一半是撒都該人，一半是法利賽人，就在公會中大聲說：「弟兄們，我是法利賽人，也是法利賽人的子孫。我現在受審問，是為盼望死人復活。」Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

公會分為兩黨

⁷說了這話，法利賽人和撒都該人就爭論起來，會眾分為兩黨。As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

⁸因為撒都該人說，沒有復活，也沒有天使和鬼魂；法利賽人卻說，兩樣都有。For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

⁹於是大大地喧嚷起來。有幾個法利賽黨的文士站起來爭辯說：「我們看不出這人有甚麼惡處，倘若有鬼魂或是天使對他說過話，怎麼樣呢？」A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

¹⁰那時大起爭吵，千夫長恐怕保羅被他們扯碎了，就吩咐兵丁下去，把他從眾人當中搶出來，帶進營樓去。The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

主站在保羅旁邊

¹¹當夜，主站在保羅旁邊，說：「放心吧！你怎樣在耶路撒冷為我作見證，也必怎樣在羅馬為我作見證。」The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”

四十多人起誓要殺保羅

¹²到了天亮，猶太人同謀起誓，說：「若不先殺保羅就不吃不喝。」When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

¹³這樣同心起誓的有四十多人。More than forty of them were involved in this plot.

¹⁴他們來見祭司長和長老，說：「我們已經起了一個大誓，若不先殺保羅就不吃甚麼。They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

¹⁵現在你們和公會要知會千夫長，叫他帶下保羅到你們這裡來，假作要詳細察考他的事；我們已經預備好了，不等他來到跟前就殺他。」Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”