Job
Chapter 2
1 Once again the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.
又有一天，天主的众子都前来侍立在上主面前，撒殚也夹在他们当中，侍立在上主面前。
2 And the LORD said to Satan, ＂Whence do you come?＂ And Satan answered the LORD and said, ＂From roaming the earth and patrolling it.＂
上主向撒殚说：＂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。＂
3 And the LORD said to Satan, ＂Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, faultless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil? He still holds fast to his innocence although you incited me against him to ruin him without cause.＂
上主对撒殚说：＂你曾留心注意到我的仆人约伯吗？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。你虽然激动我加害他，无端叫他倾家荡产，但他依然保持自己的完善。＂
4 1 And Satan answered the LORD and said, ＂Skin for skin! All that a man has will he give for his life.
撒殚回答上主说：＂那只不过是以皮换皮罢了！人都肯舍弃所有，去保全自己的性命。
5 But now put forth your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face.＂
但是，你若伸手打击他的骨和肉，他必定当面诅咒你。＂
6 And the LORD said to Satan, ＂He is in your power; only spare his life.＂
上主向撒殚说：＂看，任你处置他，只要保全他的性命。＂
7 So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with severe boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.
撒殚从上主那里出来，就使约伯从足踵到头顶都长了毒疮。
8 And he took a potsherd to scrape himself, as he sat among the ashes.
约伯坐在灰土堆中，用瓦片刮身。
9 2 Then his wife said to him, ＂Are you still holding to your innocence? Curse God and die.＂
他的妻子向他说：＂你还保持你的完善吗？你倒不如诅咒天主，死了算了！＂
10 But he said to her, ＂Are even you going to speak as senseless women do? We accept good things from God; and should we not accept evil?＂ Through all this, Job said nothing sinful.
约伯向她说：＂你说话，真象一个胡涂女人！难道我们只由天主那里接受恩惠，而不接受灾祸吗？＂就这一切事而论，约伯没有犯失言的过错。
11 3 Now when three of Job's friends heard of all the misfortune that had come upon him, they set out each one from his own place: Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuh, and Zophar from Naamath. They met and journeyed together to give him sympathy and comfort.
约伯的三位朋友，特曼人厄里法次、叔亚人彼耳达得、纳阿玛人左法尔，听说他遭遇了灾祸，就各从本地起程，来到一起，去慰问他、劝勉他，
12 But when, at a distance, they lifted up their eyes and did not recognize him, they began to weep aloud; they tore their cloaks and threw dust upon their heads.
他们从远处举目一望，已认不得他，就放声大哭，撕破了自己的外衣，把灰扬起，落在自己头上。
13 Then they sat down upon the ground with him seven days and seven nights, but none of them spoke a word to him; for they saw how great was his suffering.
他们于是同他在灰土中，坐了七天七夜，因见他受苦太大，没有人敢向他说一句话。
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Footnotes（注解）
1 [4] Skin for skin: an expression which, as applied to Job, means that he has borne his suffering patiently thus far only because he seeks to avoid greater suffering and to receive greater favors from God.
2 [9] Curse God and die: you have nothing to hope for from God and therefore nothing to live for.
3 [11] The names of Job's friends suggest Edomite origin. The Edomites (Obadiah 1:8-9) and more specifically the Temanites (Jeremiah 49:7) enjoyed a reputation for wisdom.