约伯传 Job Chapter 1
Job
Chapter 1

1 In the land of Uz 1 there was a blameless and upright man named Job, who feared God and avoided evil.

从前在胡兹地方,有一个人名叫约伯,为人十全十美,生性正直,敬畏天主,远离邪恶。

2 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him;

他生了七个儿子,三个女儿。

3 3 and he had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses, and a great number of work animals, so that he was greater than any of the men of the East.

家畜有七千只羊,三千骆驼,五百对牛,五百母驴,且有很多仆人。此人是当时东方人民中最伟大的人物。

4 His sons used to take turns giving feasts, sending invitations to their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

他的每个儿子,按日轮流在家中设宴,且派人邀请他们的三个姊妹来一同宴饮。

5 And when each feast had run its course, Job would send for them and sanctify them, rising early and offering holocausts for every one of them. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts." This Job did habitually.

及至宴饮的日子轮流一周,约伯总是派人召集他们来圣洁他们,清早起来照子女的数目,献上全燔祭品说:"恐怕我的儿子犯了罪,心中诅咒了天主。"约伯常常如此行事。

6 4 One day, when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan also came among them.

有一天,天主的众子都来侍立在上主面前,撒殚也夹在他们当中。

7 And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming the earth and patrolling it."

上主问撒殚说:"你从那里来?"撒殚回答上主说:"我走遍了世界,周游了各地回来。"

8 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?"

上主对撒殚说:"你曾留心注意到我的仆人约伯没有?因为世上没有一个象他那样十全十美,生性正直,敬畏天主,远避邪恶的人。"

9 But Satan answered the LORD and said, "Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?

撒殚回答上主说:"约伯那里是无缘无故敬畏天主的呢?

10 Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land.

你不是四面保护他、他的家庭和他所有的一切么?并且凡是他亲手做的,你都降福了;你使他的牲畜在地上繁殖增多。

11 But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face."

但是你若伸手打击他所有的一切,他必定当面诅咒你。"

12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand upon his person." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

上主对撒殚说:"看,他所有的一切,都随你处理,只是不要伸手加害他的身体。"撒殚遂离开天主走了。

13 And so one day, while his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,

有一天,他的儿子同他的女儿,正在长兄家里欢宴饮酒的时候,

14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the asses grazing beside them,

有个带信的人跑来向约伯说:"牛正在耕田,母驴在一旁吃草的时候,

15 5 and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid. They put the herdsmen to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

舍巴人突然闯来将牲口抢了去,用刀将那些仆人杀了,只有我一人逃脱,来向你报告。"

16 6 While he was yet speaking, another came and said, "Lightning has fallen from heaven and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

这人还在报告时,另一个人跑来说:"天主的火由天降下,将羊群和仆人都烧死了,只有我一人逃脱,来向你报告。"

17 While he was yet speaking, another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, seized the camels, carried them off, and put those tending them to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

这人还在报告时,另一个人跑来说:"加色丁人分成三队闯入骆驼群,将骆驼抢走了,用刀将仆人杀了,只有我一人逃脱,来向你报告。"

18 While he was yet speaking, another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,

这人还在报告时,另一个人跑来说:"你的儿女正在长兄家宴饮的时候,

19 when suddenly a great wind came across the desert and smote the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

忽然从旷野那边吹来一阵飓风,刮倒了房屋的四角,压死了你的孩子,只有我一人幸免,来向你报告。"

20 Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair. He cast himself prostrate upon the ground,

约伯就起来,撕裂了自己的外氅,剃去头发,俯伏在地叩拜,

21 7 and said, "Naked I came forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!"

说"我赤身脱离母胎,也要赤身归去;上主赐的,上主收回。愿上主的名常受到赞美!"

22 In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God.

就这一切事而论,约伯并没有犯罪,也没有说抱怨天主的话。

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Footnotes(注解)

1 [1] Uz: somewhere in Edom or Arabia. Job: a not uncommon name in ancient Semitic circles; its original meaning was "enemy."

2 [2-3] The numbers mentioned here indicate Job's great wealth and happiness, external proof of God's friendship.

3 [3] Men of the East: that is, east of Palestine.

4 [6] Sons of God: angels. Satan: literally, "adversary."

5 [15] Sabeans: from southern Arabia.

6 [16] Lightning: literally, "God's fire."

7 [21] Go back again: to the earth; cf Genesis 2:7; Sirach 40:1.