約伯記新譯
                              第四章 分別獨白

  I. 約伯辯白(29:1-31:40):
     (I) 緬懷過去(29:1-25)
1         約伯續論, 歌曰:
           1. 蒙神眷顧(29:1-6):
2               "神鑒察我的日子                               "How long for the months gone by,
                  和歲月要到幾時;                          for the days when God watched over me;
3               祂的明燈高照我頭,                             when his lamp shone upon my head
                 在衪光中走過黑暗!                        and by his light I walked through darkness!
4              啊! 願在我興旺之日,                         Oh, for the days when I was in my prime,
                 與神親密合家蒙福;                    when God's intimate friendship blessed my house,
5                全能者仍與我同在,                              when the Almighty was still with me
                  兒女繞膝其樂融融;                                and my children were around me,
6                我的道路奶流滿地,                           when my path was drenched with cream
                  磬石中湧出橄欖油.                   and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil.
           2. 受人尊重(29:7-17):
7                  當我去到城門口,                                When I went to the gate of the city
                    坐在廣場我席上;                              and took my seat in the public square,
8                  青年見我都讓座,                            the young men saw me and stepped aside
                    老人起身站起來;                                  and the old men rose to their feet;
9                  首領以手摀著口,                                the chief men refrained from speaking
                    停止說話默不言;                             and covered their mouths with their hands;
10                 權貴軟聲說細語,                                   the voice of the nobles were hushed,
                     舌頭緊貼顎頭上.                       and their tongues struck to the roof of their mouths.
11                 聽我議論全叫好,                                   Whoever heard me spoke well of me,
                     見過我的都稱讚;                                 and those who saw me commended me,
12                 因我救求救窮人,                              because I rescued the poor who cried for help,
                     以及無助的孤兒.                              and the fatherless who had none to assist him.
13                  將死的人祝福我,                                     The man who was dying blessed me;
                      我使寡婦心歡唱.                                          I made the widow's heart sing.
14                  我以公義為衣裳,                                     I put on righteousness as my clothing;
                      又以公正為袍冠.                                       justice was my robe and my turban.
15                  我是盲人的眼睛,                                                 I was eyes to the blind
                      也是瘸子的雙腳,                                                   and feet to the lame.
16                  我是窮人的父親,                                                I was father to the needy;
                      也為陌生人辯護.                                          I took up the case of the stranger.
17                   我打斷惡人獠牙,                                           I broke the fangs of the wicked
                       救出牙下的獵物.                                   and snatched the victims from their teeth.
           3. 榮耀常新(29:18-20):
18                我心想, '我會安死家中,                     I thought, 'I will die in my own house,
                       我的日子多如海沙.                    my days as numerous as the grains of sand.
19                   我的根伸展至水邊,                              My roots will reach to the water,
                       甘露整夜潤我枝幹.                    and the dew will lie all night on my branches.
20                   我的榮耀永保鮮新,                              My glory will remain fresh in me,
                       大弓在我手中常新.'                               the bow ever new in my hand.'
           4. 聲聲入耳(29:21-25):
21                     眾人期望聽我言,                                Men listened to me expectantly,
                         靜默不語候我教.                               waiting in silence for my counsel.
22                     我說完話眾無言;                          After I had spoken, they spoke no more;
                         聲聲進入眾人耳.                               my words fell gently on their ears.
23                      候我如盼甘雨露,                              They waited for me as for showers
                          喝飲我言如春雨.                         and drank in my words as the spring rain.
24                      我雖微笑仍難信,                     When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it;
                          珍視我的臉發光.                           the light of my face was precious to them.
25                      我選道路帶他們,                        I chose the way for them and sat as their chief;
                          在他軍中作大王,                                  I dwell as a king among his troops;
                          又像喪家安慰人.                               I was like one who comforts mourners.

    (II) 悲嘆現在(30:1-31):
            1. 傾訴悲情(30:1-8):
1            但現比我年輕的嘲笑我,                  "But now they mock me, men younger than I,
              他們的父輩我連讓他們                          whose fathers I would have disdained
              作我牧羊犬的伴都不要.                                   to put with my sheep dogs.
2            因他們的身上失去活力,                Of what use was the strength of their hands to me,
              沒有力氣的手對我何用?                          since their vigor had gone from them?
3              因貧困饑餓骨瘦如柴,                                 Haggard from want and hunger,
                在乾旱荒涼曠野夜晚.                                  they roamed the parched land
                他們流浪在燥熱焦土,                                  in desolate wastelands at night.
4              他們在草叢中採鹹草,                              In the brush they gathered salt herbs,
                並且挖樹根充饑果腹.                         and their food was the root of the broom tree.
5              他們從眾民之中逐出,                            They were banished from their fellow men.
                大聲喊叫把他們當賊.                                   shouted at as if they were thieves.
6              追逼居住乾涸河床上,                          They were forced to live in the dry stream beds,
                以及岩石和洞穴之中.                             among the rocks and in holes in the ground.
7              他們在草叢中發哀鳴,                                        They brayed among the bushes
                並在樹叢中互擁取暖.                                        and huddled in the undergrowth.
8               他們是群赤貧無名子,                                           A base and nameless brood,
                 被人驅趕逐出在境外.                                        they were driven out of the land.
            2. 飽受打擊(30:9-19):
9              現他們子孫謳歌嘲笑我,                        And now their sons mock me in song;
                在他們之中我竟成笑柄.                       I have become a byword among them.
10               他們厭惡我遠離我;                         They detest me and keep their distance;
                   不猶豫向我吐口水.                          they do not hesitate to spit in my face.
11              現神斷我弓弦苦待我            , Now that God has unstrung my bow and afflicted me,
                  他們就對我肆無忌憚.                         they throw off restrain in my presence.
12                  暴民右邊攻擊我,                                   On my right the tribe attacks,
                     在我腳下佈羅網,                                       they lay snare for my feet,
                     建築工事圍困我.                             they build their siege ramps against me.
13                 又破壞我的道路,                                          They break up my road;
                     在無人支助之下,                                     they succeed in destroying me -
                     成功把我毀滅了.                                     without anyone's helping them.
14                  他們如破口衝入,                           They advance as through a gaping breach;
                      廢墟隨之翻滾來.                                  and the ruins they come rolling in.
15                  恐怖籠罩我全身,                                         Terrors overwhelmed me;
                     尊嚴如被風吹逝,                               my dignity is driven away as by the wind,
                      安全像雲全消散.                                      my safety vanishes like a cloud.

16                  現找的生命衰逝,                                  And now my life ebbs away;
                      痛苦日子緊抓我.                                    days of suffering grip me.
17                  黑夜刺我痛徹骨,                                      Night pierces my bones;
                      扎心劇痛不止息.                                  my gnawing pains never rest.
18                   神大能如衣裹我,                 In his great power God becomes like clothing to me;
                       又如衣領緊包我.                          he binds me like the neck of my garment.
19                   祂把我丟入淤泥,                                       He throws me into the mud,
                        頓成地上塵與土                                 and I am reduced to dust and ashes.
           3. 呼求不應(30:20-23):
20                 神啊! 我呼求你不回應,                I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer;
                         我站起你不理我.                           I stand up, but you merely look at me.
21                     你轉而殘酷待我,                                     You turn on me ruthlessly;
                         你的大手重擊我.                         with the might of your hand you attack me.
22                     抓起我擲向風中,                      You snatch me up and drive me before the wind;
                         暴風中丟我拋我.                                   you toss me about in the strom.
23                     你要打我入陰間,                              I know you will bring me down to death,
                         活人定必去之處.                               to the place appointed for all the living.
              4. 內心痛苦(30:24-31):
24                   人在痛苦之中呼求時,                   Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man
                       沒有人忍心打落水狗.                         when he cries for help in his distress.
25                   我沒為受難者哀哭嗎?                         Have I not wept for those in trouble?
                       我心沒為窮人耽憂嗎?                        Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
26                   然而當我盼福卻來禍,                         Yet when I hoped for good, evil came;
                       欲追求光明卻來黑暗.                      when I look for light, then came darkness.
27                    我內心翻騰從未止息,                          The churning inside me never stops;
                       還得面對痛苦的日子.                               days of suffering confront me.
28                    我全身發黑非因日曬,                      I go about blackened, but not by the sun;
                       我站大會中高呼求助.                      I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.
29                       我成為野狗兄弟,                              I have become a brother of jackles,
                           和貓頭鷹的伙伴.                                         a companion of owls.
30                       我的皮發黑剝落,                                   My skin grows black and peels;
                          身體又發燒滾燙.                                        my body burns with fever.
31                       我的琴彈奏哀音,                                     My harp is tuned to mourning,
                           我的簫吹出哭聲.                                and my flute to the sound of wailing.

    (III) 守道不渝(31:1-40):
             1. 明察秋毫(31:1-4):
1              我已與我的雙目立約,                              I made a convenant with my eyes
                絕對不以淫眼看秀女.                                   not to look lustfully at a girl.
2              人從天上神得到的福,                            For what is man's lot from God above,
                是高天全能者所賜嗎?                          his heritage from the Almighty on high?
3              難道不是惡人的廢墟,                                     Is it not ruin for the wicked,
                行差踏錯者的災難嗎?                                 disaster for those who do wrong?
4              神沒有察看我的道路,                                       Does he not see my ways
                點數我的每一腳步嗎?                                       and count my every step?
            2. 報應不爽(31:5-12):
5                  我若與虛謊同行,                                 f I have walked in falsehood
                   我的腳急隨跪詐;                            or my foot has hurried after deceit -
6                  就讓神公平秤我,                             let God weigh me in honest scales
                    必知我純正無瑕;                          and he will know that I am blameless -
7                  若我腳步離正道,                          if my steps have turned from the path,
                    我心隨眼目而行,                           if my heart has been led by my eyes,
                    我雙手不潔玷污;                              or if my hands have been defiled,
8                 就讓人吃光我所種,                         then may others eat what I have sown,
                   並連根拔起我莊稼.                               and may my crops be uprooted.

9                 我若心受淫婦誘惑,                         If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
                   或在鄰居門口淫蕩;                          or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door,
10                就讓我妻磨人的磨,                       then may my wife grind another man's grain,
                    與人同床共度春宵.                               and may other men sleep with her.
11                因那真是奇恥大辱,                               For that would have been shameful,
                    罪大惡極必受審判,                                            a sin to be judged.
12                 這是把燃起毀滅火,                               It is a fire that burns to Destruction;
                    可把我收成燒凈盡.                                it would have uprooted my harvest.
             3. 平等對待(31:13-15):
13                 若我虧待男僕女婢,        If I have denied justice to my menservants and maidservants,
                     讓僕婢聯手控訴我;                        when they had a grievance against me;
14                 神若責備我該怎辦?                         what will I do when God confronts me?
                     要我負責時該怎答?                      What will I answer when called to account?
15               神造我不也同造他們嗎?             Did not he who made me in the womb make them?
                   造我們的不是同一位嗎?          Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?
              4. 不敢作惡(31:16-23):
16                     若我不遂窮人願,                          If I have denied the desires of the poor
                         又教寡婦眼落空;                         or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,
17                      我若只為己飽足,                             if I have kept my bread to myself,
                         不與孤兒同分享;                               not sharing it with the fatherless -
18                      自幼如父待孤兒,                   but from my youth I reared him as would a father,
                          出母胎善待寡婦;                           and from my birth I guided the widow -
19                      我若見人無衣死,                   if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,
                          窮人無衣遮蔽體,                                  or a needy without a garment,
20                       若不以羊毛送暖,                                  and his heart did not bless me
                           其心不會祝福我;                     for warming him with the fleece from my sheep,
21                       我若舉手打孤兒,                       if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
                           自持法庭有影響,                               knowing that I had influence in court,
22                        就讓我臂從肩脫,                              then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
                           骨頭關節都折斷.                                     let it be broken off at the joint.
23                        因我害怕神毀滅,                                 For I dreaded destruction from God,
                            怕祂榮光不敢作.                    and for fear of his splendor I could not do such thing.
              5. 忠心對神(31:24-28):
24                        我若一心信靠黃金,                            If I have put my trust in gold
                      並對精金說, '你是我的保障;'             or said to pure gold, 'You are my security;'
25                       我若為我的豐裕財富                     if I have rejoiced over my great wealth,
                           和雙手得來財寶歡欣;                         the fortune my hands had gained;
26                      我若關心太陽光芒照耀,                  if I have regarded the sun in its radiance
                          以及月亮皎潔天空運行,                         or the moon moving in splendor;
27                      使得我的心暗中受誘惑,                      so that my heart was secretly enticed
                          伸手給他們作忠誠之吻;                 and my hand offered them a kiss of homage;
28                       這些都是應受審判的罪,                  then these also would be sins to be judged,
                           因為我對天上的神不忠.               for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.
              6. 害怕公議(31:29-34):
29                          我若因仇敵不幸歡欣,                If I have rejoiced at my enemy's misfortune
                              對他的災難幸災樂禍;               or gloated over the trouble that came to him -
30                           我絕不容我的口犯罪,                      I have not allowed my mouth to sin
                              口無遮攔咒詛他生命;                        by invoking a curse against his life -
31                           我的家人若從沒說過:                 If the men of my household have never said,
                             "誰沒有飽吃約伯的飯?"                     Who has not had his fill of Job's meal?' -
32                           無一異鄉客夜宿街頭,             but no stranger had to spend the night in the street,
                               因為我家大門常敞開;                   for my door was always open to the traveler -
33                           我與世人一樣藏我罪,                         I have concealed my sin as men do,
                               把我的罪深藏在心中,                             by hiding my guilt in my heart
34                            因為我非常害怕群眾,                             because I so feared the crowd
                               同時懼怕族人的藐視,                      and so dreaded the contempt of the clans
                                所以我沉默足不出戶.                     that I kept silent and would not go outside.
               7. 面對控訴(31:35-37):
35                (啊! 但願有人聽我言!                       (Oh, that I had someone to hear me!
                      我現簽署我的辯狀,                                    I sign now my defense -
                      就讓全能者回應我;                                 let the Almighty answer me;
                      願告我的寫好訴狀.                      let my accuser put his indictment in writing.
36                  我必把狀子掛肩頭,                           Surely I would wear it on my shoulder,
                      並且像冠冕載頭上.                                 I would put it on like a crown.
37                  我會向他說明步驟,                     I would give him an account of my every step,
                     像個王子到他面前.)                             like a prince I would approach him.) -
               8. 厚待佃農(31:38-40):
38                   若我的田地也告我,                            if my land cries out against me
                       犁溝全被淚水潤濕;                       and all its furrows are wet with tears,
39                   我若光吃收成不付款,               if I have devoured its yield without payment
                      或強奪佃農要他性命;                        or broken the spirit of its tenants,
40                  就讓田地長草不長麥,                   then let briers come up instead of wheat
                      長滿野草長不出大麥."                           and weeds instead of barley."

                          約伯的話說完了.                                The word of Job are ended.

 II. 以利戶講論(32:1-37:24):
     (I) 引言(32:1-5):
           約伯的話一說完, 這三個人因約伯自以為義, 就不再回答他. 但蘭族布西人巴拉迦
之子以利戶向約伯大發雷霆, 因鳥約伯在神前自以為義. 同時, 他又向約伯的三友發怒,
因他們雖然 －致認為約伯有罪, 卻找不到理由駁斥他. 又因三友的年紀都比以利戶大,
以利戶只好等著向約伯說話, 今見這三人閉口無言, 不覺怒火中燒.

   (II) 講論(32:6-37:24):
          布西人巴拉迦之子以利戶講論, 歌曰:
          1. 第一講論(32:6-33:33):
             (1) 長幼無別(32:6-9);
6                  "我年輕你們年長;                           "I am young in years, and you are old;
                     因此我心存戒懼,                                       that is why I was fearful,
不                    敢直陳我己見.                                not daring to tell you what I know.
7               我想: '年歲自己會說話,                                I thought, 'Age should speak;
                   年長者應以智慧教人.'                         advanced years should teach wisdom.'
8             但人的心靈和全能者的氣息,                               But it is the spirit in a man,
                        才能使人理智.                 the breath of the Almighty, that give him understanding.
9                    不僅年長者有智慧,                               it is not only the old who are wise,
                       老者亦能明辨是非.                    not only the aged who understand what is right.
             (2) 靜候發言(32:10-22):
10                   因此我說: '請聽我言,                          Therefore I say: 'Listen to me;
                     我也會告訴你們我所知.'                         I too will tell you what I know.'
11                   你們發言時我在等待,                               I waited while you spoke,
                       你們在思索說詞之時,                             I listened to your reasoning;
                       我在傾聽你們的辯理.                         while you were searching for words,
12                    我全神貫注聽你們說,                             I gave you my full attention.
                       但無一人證明約伯錯                 , But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
                       也無人辯倒他的歪論.                   none of you has answered his arguments.
13                 千萬別說: '我們找到智慧.                    Do not say, 'We have found wisdom;
                      讓神而不是人去駁斥他.'                            let God refute him, not man.'
14                   但約伯沒有放言攻擊我,              But Job has not marshaled his words against me,
                       我不會用你們的話答他.                and I will not answer him with your arguments.

15                    他們感到驚異不再言語,                  They are dismayed and have no more to say;
                        因為他們個個詞窮語盡.                                  words have failed them.
16                    現在他們全都沉默無語,                        Must I wait, now that they are silent,
                        站立不回答我還要等嗎?                     now that they stand there with no reply?
17                    我也會有我的一套說法,                                   I too will have my say;
                        我會就我所知告訴你們.                             I too will tell you what I know.
18                    因為我充滿了要說的話,                                    For I am full of words,
                        我裏面的靈催逼我說出.                         and the spirit within me compels me;
19                     我的內心像瓶倒轉的酒,                             inside I am like bottled-up wine,
                         又像裝得快爆炸新酒囊.                            like new wineskins ready to brust.
20                      我必需放言說出而後快,                               I must speak and find relief;
                         我必需開口回答他問題.                               I must open my lips and reply.
21                     我絕對不會偏袒那一位,                               I will show partiality to no one,
                         更不會諂媚恭維任何人.                                   nor will I flatter any man;
22                      因為我若精於逢迎拍馬,                                for if I were skilled in flattery,
                          造物主很快就會剪除我.                           my Maker would soon take me away.
             (3) 公平對話(33:1-7):
1                        約伯啊! 你現要細聽我言,                     But now, Job, listen to my words;
                              注意我說的一切話.                         pay attention to everything I say.
2                              我即將開口說話,                           I am about to open my mouth;
                                 我話正在舌頭上.                     my words are on the tip of my tongue.
3                               所說發自正直心,                      My words come from an upright heart;
                                 我口真誠說所知.                        my lips sincerely speak what I know.
4                               神的靈創造了我,                            The Spirit of God has made me;
                                 主的氣賜我生命.                       the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5                                你若能就回答我,                               Answer me then, if you can;
                                  好好準備與我辯.                           prepare yourself and confront me.
6                                在神前你我一樣,                              I am just like you before God;
                                  我也是泥土做的.                            I too have been taken from clay.
7                                不必提防害怕我,                             No fear of me should alarm you,
                                  我手也不重壓你.                       nor should my hand be heavy upon you.
            (4) 切勿自義(33:8-18):
8                  你在我聽證中說的,                            But you have said in my hearing -
                      句句入耳, 你說:                                     I heard the very words -
9                       我潔淨無罪,                                 I am pure and and without sin;
                         也清白無過.                                 I am clean and free from guilt.
10                然而, 神卻吹毛求疵,                          Yet God has found fault with me;
                      竟視我如祂仇敵.                                  he considers me his enemy.
11                  祂緊鎖我的腳鐐,                                He fastens my feet in shackles;
                      緊盯我一切行為.'                           he keeps close watch on all my paths.'

12                  但是我要告訴你,                                     But I tell you,
                      在這方面你錯了;                            in this you are not right,
                      因神比世人偉大.                          for God is greater than man.
13                  衪不會回答人話,                         Why do you complaint to him
                      你為何向衪抱怨?                   that he answers none of man's word?
14                   因神的確會說話,                                For God does speak -
                    現這樣說, 又那樣說;                        now one way, now another -
                       而人可能沒察覺.                       though man may not perceive it.
15                    當人在沉睡之中.                     In a dream, in a vision of the night,
                        床上昏昏欲睡時;                         when deep sleep falls on men
                    神會在夜間藉夢和異象,                     as they slumber in their beds,
16                     向人的耳邊說話,                            he may speak in their ears
                         警告去嚇阻他們.                         and terrify them with warnings,
17                     使人不敢去作惡,                         to turn man from wrongdoing
                         也不敢驕傲自大,                            and keep him from pride,
18                     使靈魂不下陰間,                       to preserve his soul from the pit,
                         性命不會喪刀下.                     his life from perishing by the sword.
             (5) 神教訓人(33:19-33):
19                人在床上受痛苦煎熬,                 Or a man may be chastened on a bed of pain
                        渾身疼痛徹骨,                             which constant distress in his bones,
20                     以致厭棄食物,                          so that his very being finds food repulsive
                        更是心惡美食.                             and his soul loathes the choicest meal.
21                     使得肌肉消瘦,                                 his flesh wastes away to nothing,
                         隱藏骨頭突出.                          and his bones, once hidden, now stick out.
22                     靈魂臨近陰間,                                    His soul draws near to the pit,
                         生命瀕臨死亡.                             and his life to the messengers of death.

23                      千位天使之中,                             Yet there is an angel on his side
                     若有一在他身旁作調人;                  as a mediator, one out of a thousand,
                          示人當行正事,                            to tell a man what is right for him,
24                      並且恩待他說,                                to be gracious to him and say.
                        我已為他籌得贖金,                       Spare him from going down to the pit;
                        救贖他免得下陰間;'                          I have found a ransom for him' -
25                      使他如童長新肌,                        then his flesh is renewed like a child's;
                          返回青壯的年日.                       it is restored as in the days of his youth.
26                      他祈求神蒙喜悅,                      He prays to God and finds favor with him,
                          朝見神面心歡呼;                         he sees God's face and shouts for joy;
                          神又使他成義人.                      he is restored by God to his righteous state.
27                      於是他在人前說:                              Then he comes to men and says,
                          我犯罪顛倒是非,                          I sinned, and perverted what was right,
                          但沒受應得懲罰.                               but I did not get what I deserved.
28                      衪贖我靈離陰間;                    He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit,
                          我得存活享明光.'                                and I will live to enjoy the light.'

29                          神二次三番                             God does all these things to a man -
                              對人行這事,                                    twice, even three times -
30                       使他的靈陰間返,                           to turn back his soul from the pit,
                           生命之光再照耀.                        that the light of life may shine on him.
31                     約伯啊! 請細聽我言;                       Pay attention, Job, and listen to me;
                         別作聲! 我要說話了.                                be silent, and I will speak.
32                        若有話說先答我;                       If you have anything to say, answer me;
                            說出我好說明白.                        speak up, for I want you to be cleared.
33                        不然就聽我來說;                                 But if not, then listen to me;
                     別作聲! 好讓我以智慧教你.                   be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."

         2. 第二講論(34:1-37):
             以利戶續說, 歌曰:
            (1) 斥責自義(34:1-9):
2             "智者啊! 你們要聽我話;                           "Hear my words, you wise men;
                學者啊! 你們細聽我言.                           listen to me, you men of learning.
3                     因耳試言語,                                          For the ear tests words
                       如舌嚐美食.                                         as the tongue tests food.
4              讓我們自己辨別何為是,                     Let us discern for ourselves what is right;
                    一同學習何為美.                                let us learn together what is good.

5               約伯說: '我清白無辜,                                      Job says, 'I am innocent,
                      神卻待我不公.                                         but God denies me justice.
6                    儘管我是有理,                                               Although I am right,
                      仍認為我說謊;                                             I am considered a liar;
                      我雖毫無過失,                                             although I am guiltless,
                      箭卻致命射我.'                                  his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.'
7                    有誰會像約伯,                                                What man is like Job,
                      喝羞辱如喝水?                                          who drinks scorn like water?
8                    他與壞人為伍,                                       He keeps company with evildoers;
                      又與惡人交往.                                          he associates with wicked men.
9                   因他說: '討好神,                                    For he says, 'It profits a man nothing
                     一點好處都沒有.'                                           when he tries to please God.'
            (2) 神是公義(34:10-19):
10              理智的人啊! 請聽我言.                    So listen to me, you men of understanding.
                      神絕對不會作惡,                                    Far be it from God to do evil,
                      全能者絕不行錯.                                   from the Almighty to do wrong.
11                衪以人所行報應他們,                          He repays a man for what he has done;
                    讓他們得到應得報應.                     he brings upon him what his conduct deserves.
12              神會犯罪, 全能者會不公,                      It is unthinkable that God would be wrong,
                          真不可思議!                                that the Almighty would prevent justice.
13                   誰命衪統管大地?                                 Who appointed him over that earth?
                       誰命衪管理世界?                            Who put him in charge of the whole world?
14                   如果衪真的有意,                                             If it were his intention
                       要收回衪的靈氣;                                 and he withdrew his spirit and breath,
15                   人類將一同滅絕,                                     all mankind would perish together
                       所有人都歸塵土.                                     and man would return to the dust.

16                 你若明理, 請聽這話,                                 If you have understanding, hear this;
                            細聽我說.                                                    listen to what I say.
17              不講公義的能統治萬物嗎?                               Can he who hates justice govern?
                  你們能譴責公義大能者嗎?                       Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
18                   祂不是對君王說過:                                 Is he not the One who says to kings,
                      '你們都是無用廢物!'                                             'You are worthless,'
                 對權貴說過: '你們都是惡棍!'                               and to nobles, 'You are wicked,'
19                      誰不偏袒王子                                       Who shows no partiality to princes
                         也不重富輕貧,                                  and does not favor the rich over the poor,
                    這一切不都出自衪手嗎?                              for they are all the work of his hands?
20                 他們都在午夜突然死亡,                      They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;
                     人們在天搖地動中消逝,                           the people are shaken and they pass away;
                     掌權者非因人手被剪除.                         the mighty are removed without human hand.
            (3) 神察秋毫(34:20-30):
21                衪的眼目注視世人的道路,                           His eyes are on the ways of men;
                          察看他們的腳步.                                        he sees their every step.
22                    世上無漆黑地陰暗處                          There is no dark place, no deep shadow,
                              讓惡人藏身.                                          where evildoers can hide.
23                    神毋需進一步審查人,                         God has no need to examine men further,
                        讓他們到衪面前受審.                    that they should come before him for judgment.
24                    不必盤問就動搖權貴,                            Without inquiry he shatters the mighty
                       令人取代他們的地位.                                  and sets up others in their place.
25                    因神注意他們的行為,                              Because he takes note of their deeds,
                        在夜間推翻粉碎他們.                 he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26                        衪在眾目睽睽下,                               He punishes them for their wickedness
                            懲罰他們的惡行;                                     where everyone can see them,
27                        他們偏離不隨衪,                               because they turned from following him
                            也不遵行衪的道.                                and had no regard for any of his ways.
28                 他們使窮人哀號來到衪面前,                They cause the cry of the poor to come before him,
                          使祂聽見貧困的哀求.                              so that he heard the cry of the needy.
29                  若衪沉獸不管, 誰能責怪衪?                   But if he remains silent, who can condemn him?
                      而祂對世人及國家一視同仁,                           Yet he is over man and nation alike,
30                      絕對不讓無神者去統治,                              to keep a godless man from ruling,
                          不容他們對百姓佈羅網.                               from laying snares for the people.
           (4) 指陳罪狀(34:31-37):
31                             若有人對神說,                               Suppose a man says to God,
                           我有過錯, 但決不再犯.                     I am guilty but will offend no more.
32                           請教我看不見的;                             Teach me what I can not see;
                           我若犯錯, 絕不會再犯.'                f I have done wrong, I will not do so again.'
33                          你如果還拒絕悔改,                   Shoud God then reward you on your terms,
                             神還能依你行賞嗎?                               when you refuse to repent?
                            你必需決定, 不是我;                                  You must decide, not I;
                              請就你所知告訴我.                                 so tell me what you know.

34                               理智者宣示,                               Men of understaning declare,
                             聽我言的智者對我說,                      wise men who hear me say to me,
35                          約伯說的話毫無知識,                        Job speaks without knowledge;
                              他說的話也沒有智慧.'                               his words lack insight.'
36                      啊! 約伯應經得起極大考驗,            Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
                              因他回答像惡人一樣!                        for answering like a wicked man!
37                           他除犯罪外還加悖逆,                           To his sin he adds rebellion;
                               在我們中間輕蔑拍手,                   scornfully he claps his hands among us
                               尤其加倍惡言褻瀆神."                    and multiplies his words against God."

        3. 第三講論(35:1-16):
1          以利戶又說, 歌曰:
            (1) 神無損益(35:1-8):
2               "你認為這話有理嗎?                                      "Do you think this is just?
                你說: '神會還我清白.'                               You say, 'I will be cleared by God.'
3             你又問祂, '這於我何益,                          Yet you ask him, 'What profit is it to me,
                不犯罪我能得到甚麼?'                               and what do I gain by not sinning?'

4                我要說些話回答你,                                   I would like to reply you
                  和跟你一起的朋友.                                and to your friends with you.
5                抬起頭來觀看青天,                              Look up to the heavens and see;
                  並瞻望高天的雲彩.                           gaze at the clouds so high above you.
6                你若犯罪於神何害?                            If you sin, how does that affect him?
                 犯罪多多於神何損?                    If your sins are many, what does that do to him?
7                你若公義於神何益?                      If you are righteous, what do you give to him,
                  祂能從你手得甚麼?                          or what does he receive from your hand?
8              你作惡只影響像你的人,                  Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself,
                 你公義也只影響世上人.                    and your righteousness only the sons of men.
            (2) 不饒惡人(35:9-16):
9                  世人在重壓下哀嚎,                         Men cry out under a load of oppression;
                    在強權欺壓下求饒.                  they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.
10           但無人說: '造我的神在那裏?                 But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker,
11                 祂使人在夜間歌唱.                                  who gives songs in the night,
                誰教我們比教地上走獸多,           Why teaches more to us than to the beasts of the earth
                使我們比空中飛鳥更聰明?                  and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?''
12                  世人呼求神不回應.                          He does not answer when men cry out
                      因為惡人驕傲自大,                         because of the arrogance of the wicked.
13                神確不聽他們空洞呼求,                Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
                    全能者也拫本置之不理.                         the Almighty pays no attention to it.
14                  更何況你說見不到衪,                            How much less, then, will he listen
                      祂怎會垂聽你的呼求;                         when you say that you do not see him,
                      現你的案子在祂面前,                                  that your case is before him
15                  你必需耐心去等待衪.                                    and you must wait for him.
                      祂的忿怒雖未施刑罰,                        and further, that his anger never punishes
                      但絕對不會放過惡人.                 and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.
16                   所以約伯開口說空話,                          So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;
                      他毫無知識放言胡說."                           without knowledge he multiplies words."

         4. 第四講論(36:1-37:24):
1           以利戶續說, 歌曰:
            (1) 賞罰分明(36:1-21):
2             請再耐心片刻, 我會告訴你;                 Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
                    我還有話要為神說.                         that there is more to be said in God's behalf.
3                  我從遠處得到知識,                                    I get my knowledge from afar;
                     把公義歸造我的主.                                 I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
4                  我說的話絕對無虛假,                            Be assured that my words are not false;
                    有位全知者與你同在.                              one perfect in knowledge is with you.

5                   神有大能但不藐視人,                     God is mighty, but does not despise men;
                     衪更堅強且旨意堅定.                         he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
6                     衪不容許惡人存活,                             He does not keep the wicked alive
                       卻維護困苦者權益.                              but gives the afflicted their rights.
7                      衪的眼目看顧義人,                      He does not take his eyes off the righteous;
                        使與君王同登寶座.                                 he enthrones them with kings
                        並且永遠高舉他們                                       and exalts them forever.
8                        人若被鎖鏈捆鎖,                                   But if men are bound in chains,
                          被苦難繩索梱綁,                                    held fast by cords of affliction,
9                      祂告訴他們所作所為,                             he tells them what they have done -
                        讓他們知道驕傲犯罪.                               that they have sinned arrogantly.
10                    要他們聽從糾正教訓,                              He makes them listen to correction
                         命他們為罪衷心悔改.                       and commands them to repent of their evil.
11                     他們若都順從服事祂,                                    If they obey and serve him,
                         往後日子必興旺強盛,                    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity
                         以後年歲必美滿幸福.                                  and their years in contentment.
12                      但若他們頑梗不聽從,                                        But if they do not listen,
                         刀劍必把他們全殺滅,                                     they will perish by the sword
                         不知不覺走向死亡路.                                       and die without knowledge.

13                      無神者心中充滿憤恨,                     The godless in heart habor resentment;
                          即使神捆鎖也不求救.             even when he fatters them, they do not cry for help.
14                      他們全都在英年早逝,                                  They die in their youth,
                         都死在神廟男妓之中.                           among male prostitutes of shrines.
15                       而祂拯救受苦的人,                 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering;
                           在他們困苦中說話.                            he speaks to them in their affliction.

16                       祂誘導你遠離虎口,                     He is wooing you from the jaws of distress
                           到無羈束寬廣之地,                       to a spacious place free from restriction,
                           以滿桌美食撫慰你.               to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.
17                    現你承擔惡人當受審判,         But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked
                        受到審判與刑罰的處分.                   judgment and justice have taken hold of you.
18                    你要小心無人以利誘你;                    Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
                        勿讓賄賂使你偏離正道.                         do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
19                     你的財富甚或你的權勢,                 Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts
                         能夠保證你免受苦難嗎?                     sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20                        不要盼望黑夜降臨,                                       Do not long for the night,
                            把人們從家中拖走.                             to drag people away from their homes.
21                        小心不要轉向罪惡,                                        Beware of turning to evil,
                            而你似乎較喜災難.                               which you seem to prefer to affliction.
            (2) 應榮耀神(36:22-26):
22                   神靠己能升高天,                                   God is exalted in his power,
                       有那位教師像衪?                                    who is a teacher like him?
23                  誰能規劃衪的道路,                            Who has prescribed his way for him,
                      或對祂說: '你錯了!'                          or said to him, 'You have done wrong?'
24                   記得要讚美衪的工,                                  Remember to extol his work,
                      那是人一直歌頌的.                                which men have praised in song.
25                  全人類都親眼目睹,                                       All mankind has seen it;
                      世人都從遠處觀看.                                      men gaze on it from afar.
26                神的偉大超過我們理解!                  How great is God - beyond our understanding!
                    衪的年歲我們無法測度.                     The number of his years is past finding out.
            (3) 呼風喚雨(36:27-33):
27                     衪吸收大氣水滴,                           He draws up the drops of water,
                         蒸發成雨落河川.                           which distill as rain to the streams;
28                      密雲空中倒濕氣,                          the clouds pour down their moisture
                         充沛雨霖降人間.                        and abundant showers fall on mankind.
29                     誰知衪如何展雲,               Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
                         如何從行宮打雷?                           how he thunders from his pavilion?
30                      看衪身置閃電中,                    See how he scatters his lightning about him,
                          浴身在海的深處.                               bathing the depths of the sea.
31                      衪以此統治萬邦,                         This is the way he governs the nations
                          供應豐盛的食糧.                               and provides food in abundance.
32                      祂雙手親掌雷電,                                He fills his hands with lightning
                          命雷電擊打目標.                             and commands it to strike its mark.
33                      雷電預警風暴臨,                        His thunder announces the coming storm;
                          牲畜亦知暴風近.                        even the cattle make known its approach.
          (4) 神的威榮(37:1-13):
1                       "我的心為之砰跳,                                "At this my heart pounds
                          幾乎從心房跳出.                                  and leaps from its place.
2                      聽! 聽衪發出隆隆聲,                     Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice,
                           從衪口中轟轟響!                   to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3                         衪發雷響徹天下,             He unleashes his lightning beneth the whole heaven
                           閃電更遠達地極.                         and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4                         接著衪發出怒吼,                         After that comes the sound of his roar;
                           威嚴之聲如雷鳴;                           he thunders with his majestic voice.
                           其聲迴響寰宇間,                                    When his voice resounds,
                           放手一切由他去.                                       he holds nothing back.
5                         神的聲音妙如雷,                          God's voice thunders in marvelous ways;
                           祂行大事超理解.                     he does great things beyond our understanding.
6                    祂對雪說: '降在地上吧!'                       He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,'
                      又對雨說: '傾盆狂下吧!'                 and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'
7                      衪要人全都停止勞碌,                  So that all men he has made may know his work,
                        衪造的人才知衪大工.                             he stops every man from his labor.
8                              野獸隱藏,                                             The animals take cover;
                                留在穴中                                           . they remain in their dens.
9                              暴雨出閣,                                The tempest comes out from its chamber,
                                烈風苦寒.                                         the cold from the driving winds.
10                        神的氣息結成冰,                                     The breath of God produces ice,
                            廣大水域全冰封.                                 and the broad waters become frozen.
11                         祂使密雲滿濕氣,                                   He loads the clouds with moisture;
                            密雲之中閃雷電.                                he scatters his lightning through them.
12                        在祂指揮下盤旋,                                    At his direction they swirl around
                            全地表面任旋轉,                                     over the face of the whole earth
                            遵衪指令去行事.                                   to do whatever he commands them.
13                         衪令密雲懲世人,                                   He brings the clouds to punish men,
                             又命潤地施慈愛.                                or to water his earth and show his love.
           (5) 神行奇事(37:14-24):
14                 約伯啊! 細聽此言,                                     "Listen to this, Job;
                     靜下想想神的奇事.                         stop and consider God's wonders.
15               你知否神如何控制雨雲,                Do you know how God controls the clouds
                         怎樣打雷閃電?                               and makes his lightning flash?
16                你知否雲如何靜懸半空,                 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,
                    誰又深知祂所行的奇事?          those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?
17                     南風吹, 地悶熱                                You who swelter in your cloths
                     穿衣汗流夾背是何因?               when the land has hushed under the south wind,
18                     蒼天堅硬如銅鏡,                      can you join him in spreading out the skies,
                      你能與神同展蒼天嗎?                           hard as a mirror of cast bronze?

19                "告訴我們該向衪說甚麼?                       "Tell us what we should say to him;
                     我們愚昧不能了結此案,          we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
20                 是否要告訴祂我要發言?                      Should he be told that I want to speak?
                     世上那有人自請被吞滅?                     Would any man ask to be swallowed up?
21                     大風吹掃晴空漯淨,                              Now no one can look at the sun,
                         陽光四射照耀穹蒼,                                   bright as it is in the skies
                         現無人敢盯視太陽,                           after the wind has swept them clean.
22                      從北方金光閃閃中,                    Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;
                         神威嚴肅穆降人間.                                 God comes in awesome majesty.
23                     大能全能者高難及,                The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;
                         祂正直公義不欺壓.             in his justice and great righteousness he does not oppress.
24                      難道衪沒關心智者?                                    Therefore, men revere him,
                         因此世人要敬畏衪,               for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?

                                      約伯記新譯
                                  第三章 智慧神賜

  I. 探礦尋寶(28:1-11):
1                "此處有銀礦,                                "There is a mine for silver
                   又有煉金場.                           and a place where gold is refined.
2                 鐵從地中來,                               Iron is taken from the earth,
                   銅從礦熔出.                             and copper is smelted from ore.
3                 人終結黑暗;                            Man puts an end to the darkness;
                   探幽邃深處,                            he searches the farthest recesses
                   漆黑尋鐵砂.                             for ore in the blackest darkness.
4              遠離人居開礦穴,                  Far from where people dwell he cuts a shaft,
                人罕至處開礦坑;                       in places forgotten by the foot of man;
                遠離人盤桓搖幌.                         far from men he dangles and sways.
5              生產糧食的大地,                          The earth, from which food comes,
                地底烈火使改變.                             is transformed below as by fire;
6              藍寶石從磬石出,                              sapphires come from its rocks,
                礦沙中含黃金塊.                          and its dust contains nugget of gold.
7              雀鳥不知有陷阱,                        No bird of prey knows that hidden path,
                獵鷹銳眼也不察.                                  no falcon's eye has seen it.
8              狂傲野獸不涉足,                             Proud beasts do not set foot on it,
                猛獅遠離不靠近.                                    and no lion prowls there.
9              人手鑿打堅硬石,                             Man's hand assaults the flinty rock
                挖空山崗底下層,                        and lays bare the roots of the mountains.
10            礦坑穿過岩與石;                                  He tunnels through the rock;
                放眼全都是財寶.                                     his eyes see all treasures.
11            他搜索川流源頭,                            He searches the sources of the rivers
                使埋藏寶藏見光.                                and bring hidden things to light.

II. 智慧無價(28:12-19):
12            但智慧何處可尋?                      But where can wisdom be found?
                理智又在何處呢?                     Where does understanding dwell?
13             世人不知其價值,                   Man does not comprehand its worth;
                世上無法找得到.               it cannot be found in the land of the living.
14          深淵說, '不在我這裏!'                  The deep says, 'It is not with me;'
              大海說, '不跟我一起!'                   The sea says, 'It is not with me.'
15             智慧精金買不到,                 It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
                 也難以白銀衡量.                   nor can its price be weighed in silver.
16         俄斐金、貴瑪瑙、藍寶石,        It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,
                 都不能買到智慧.                        with precious onyx or sapphires.
17             黃金水晶不能比,               Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,
                 金鑲珠寶換不到.                       nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
18             珊瑚玉石不值提,                 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;
                 智慧遠超紅寶石.                      the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19             古實黃玉難相比,                   The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;
                 精純黃金買不到.                         it cannot be bought with pure gold.

III. 智慧真義(28:20-28):
20            那麼智慧究從何來?                   Where then does wisdom come from?
                理智又居住在何方?                      Where does understanding dwell?
21              智慧世人眼前藏,               It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
                 天空飛鳥看不到.                     concealed even from the birds of the air.
22             毀滅和死亡都說:                                Destruction and Death say,
                 只是流言傳入耳.'                     Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'
23             神明白智慧之道,                              God understands the way to it
                 衪知道智慧所在.                          and he alone knows where it dwells,
24             因為祂遠觀地極,                            for he views the ends of the earth
                 並目察天下萬事.                        and sees everything under the heavens.
25             祂定風力的強弱,                       When he established the force of the wind
                 並丈量水的面積.                                 and measured out the waters,
26             衪也為雨定規律,                             when he made a decree for the rain
                 又為雷暴定途程;                               and a path for the thunderstorm,
27             然後再察看評定,                        then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
                及確認測試智慧,                                    he confirmed it and tested it.
28             最後才對世人說:                                           And he said to man,
              敬畏耶和華就是智慧,                           The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom,
                遠離邪惡就是理智.'"                             and to shun evil is understanding.'"

                                             約伯記新譯
                                    第二章 對話與辯論(II)

III. 第二次辯論(15:1-21:34):
      (I) 以利法答唱(15:1-35)
1          提縵人以利法答唱, 歌曰:
             1. 再責自義(15:1-16):
                           新 譯                                                           英 文
2              "智者會用空言回答,                     "Would a wise man wer with empty notions,
                 以熾熱東風果腹嗎?                          or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
3               他會用無益的語言,                            Would he argue with useless words,
                 和無用的話爭辯嗎?                             with speeches that have no value?
4               然而你卻不敬不虔,                                 But you even undermine piety
                 失去了對神的忠心.                                   and hinder devotion to God.
5               你的罪控制你的嘴,                                  Your sin prompts your mouth;
                 你接納詭詐人的舌.                               you adopt the tongue of the crafty.
6            不是我口是你口譴責你;                       Your own mouth condemns you, not mine;
              你的嘴自己指證控告你.                              Your own lips testify against you.

7             你是頭一個出生的人嗎?                              Are you the first man ever born?
               是生在諸山未有之前嗎?                        Were you brought forth before the hills?
8                你聽過神的意旨嗎?                                 Do you listen in on God's council?
                  你可以獨佔智慧嗎?                                  Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
9              有甚麼你知我們不知?                           What do you know that we do not know?
                何見識你有我們沒有?                      What insights do you have that we do not have?
10             白髮耆老站我們這邊,                        The gray-haired and the aged are on our side,
                他們甚至老過你父親.                                   men even older than your father.
11            難道神的安慰還不夠,                            Are God's consolations not enough for you,
                說的話還不夠溫柔嗎?                                       words spoken gently to you?
12-13        你的心為何把你帶走,                                Why has your heart carried you away,
                你的眼為何閃發凶光;                                         and why do your eyes flash,
                使你的烈怒向神發作,                                so that you vent your rage against God
                口出惡言去褻瀆衪呢?                             and pour out such words from your mouth?

14            人算甚麼能夠潔淨嗎?                                    What is man, that he could be pure,
                婦人生的能夠稱義嗎?                        or one born of woman, that he could be righteous?
15             神若不信任祂的聖者,                                   f God places no trust in his holy ones,
                在祂眼中天也不潔淨;                               if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes;
16              何況邪惡敗壞的世人,                              how much less man, who is vile and corrupt,
                  他們痛飲罪惡如喝水!                                          who drinks up evil like water!
            2. 惡人不安(15:17-35):
17              聽我說, 我要向你解釋;                         Listen to me and I will explain to you;
                    把我看到的告訴你.                                let me tell you what I have seen,
18                就是智者所宣示的,                               what wise men who have declared,
                    不隱瞞從列祖所受.                          hiding nothing received from their fathers
19                (在沒有外族經過時,                               (to whom alone the land was given
                     把這地獨賜給列祖):                               when no alien passed among them):
20                 惡人一生飽受痛苦,                          All his days the wicked man suffers torment,
                     暴徒有生之年亦然.                     the ruthless through all the years stored up for him.
21                 耳中迴響恐怖聲音,                                      Terifying sounds fill his ears;
                     安穩之時突遭劫掠.                           when all seems well, marauders attack him.
22                 絕望之中逃脫黑暗,                                 He despairs of escaping the darkness;
                     他注定要死在刀下                                        . he is marked for the sword.
23                四處流浪成禿鷹獵物;                                He wanders about - food for vultures;
                    自知黑暗日子即將臨.                              he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
24                痛苦和不安使他惶恐;                               Distress and anguish fill him with terror;
                    恐怖緊張如君王迎敵.                         they overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack.
25                因為他向神揮舞拳頭,                                     because he shakes his fist at God
                    更大膽向全能者誇耀.                                and vaunts himself against the Almighty,
26                手中拿著堅厚大盾牌,                                        defiantly charging against him
                    狂妄大膽去向祂挑戰.                                            with a thick, strong shield.

27                    他雖然滿臉肥肉,                            Though his face is covered with fat
                        腰滿腸肥脹如鼓.                               and his waist bulges with flesh,
28                    他住在荒涼礦場,                                   he will inhabit mined towns
                        房屋空蕩無人居,                                and houses where no one lives,
                        行將倒塌成廢墟.                                    house crumbling in rubble.
29                    不再富有財難保;              He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure,
                        產業不再遍各地.                      nor will his possessions spread over the land.
30                     逃脫不出黑暗地,                               He will not escape the darkness;
                        神一口氣吹走他.                   and the breath of God's mouth will carry him away.
31                     勿信虛假騙自己,              Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless,
                         到頭來一無所得.                                  for he will get nothing in return.
32                     有生之年付總帳;                              Before his time he will be paid in full,
                         人丁子孫不興旺.                                  and his branches will not flourish.
33                      葡萄未熟被採摘,                     He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,
                          橄欖樹花被搖落.                             like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.
34                      無神之人絕子孫,                         For the company of the godless will be barren,
                          受賄之人帳火焚.                 and fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes.
35                      孕育禍害生罪惡;                           They conceive trouble and give birth to evil;
                          胎中孕育盡詭詐."                                      their womb fashions deceit."

     (II) 約伯辯駁(16:1-17:16):
            約伯答辯, 歌曰:
                          新 譯                                                          英 文
            1. 安慰反效(16:1-5):
2            "我實在聽多了這些話,                         "I have heard many things like these;
               你們全是差勁安慰者!                             miserable comforters are you all!
3             你們喋喋不休有沒完?                      Will your long-winded speeches never end?
               甚麼毛病使爭辯不休?                         What ails you that you keep on arguing?
4             你們若落在我的境地,                                    I also could speak like you,
               我也會像你們那樣說.                                       if you were in my place;
               說漂亮的話指控你們,                           I could make fine speeches against you
               並且向你們大搖其頭.                                     and shake my head at you.
5             但我會用口鼓勵你們,                              But my mouth would encourage you;
               用嘴安慰你們得溫慰.                         comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
           2. 陳述痛苦(16:6-17):
6            "我若說話, 痛苦仍難消;                         "Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
               我若閉口, 痛苦驅不散.                              and if refrain, it does not go away.
7            神啊! 你確使我精疲力竭;                         Surely, O God, you have worn me out;
                  把我全家無情毀滅                          . you have devastated my entire household.
8                你把我捆綁作罪證;                     You have bound me - and it has become a witness;
                  形容枯槁也成事證.                         my gauntness rises up and testifies against me.
9                神怒中刺殺撕裂我,                              God assails me and tears me in his anger
                  並咬牙切齒恨透我;                                       and gnashes his teeth at me;
                  我仇敵利眼緊盯我.                            my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.
10              人們張口在嘲笑我,                                  Men open their mouths to jeer at me;
                  打我的臉頰羞辱我,                                        they strike my cheek in scorn
                  聯合一致來攻擊我.                                        and unite together against me.
11               神更把我交給惡人,                                   God has turned me over to evil men
                  丟在惡人的刑杖中.                            and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.
12         我原諸事安順, 衪卻擊打我;                          All was well with me, but he shattered me;
             又抓住我頸項, 把我摔粉碎.                            He seized me the neck and crushed me.
                 他把我當成他的標靶.                                          He has made me his target;
13             祂的弓箭手把我包圍.                                             his archers surround me.
                毫不留情, 射穿我腰腎,                                   Wihtout pity, he pierces my kidneys
                打破我膽, 膽汁灑滿地.                                      and spills my gall on the ground.
14             衪一次又一次打擊我,                                     Again and again he brusts upon me;
                 像勇士向我猛烈衝撞.                                          he rushes at me like a warrior.

15               我自縫麻衣蓋我體,                           I have sewed sackcloth over my skin
                   把額頭深埋塵土中.                               and buried my brow in the dust.
16               我因哀哭滿臉通紅,                                   My face is red with weeping,
                   雙目周圍顯現黑圈;                                   deep shadows ring my eyes;
17                而我雙手絕不施暴,                         Yet my hands have been free of violence
                    我的禱告誠正純浄.                                        and my prayer is pure.
             3. 向神哭訴(16:18-22):
18          "大地啊! 不要掩蓋我的血跡;                       "O earth, do not cover my blood;
                   願我的呼求永不停息!                            may my cry never be laid to rest!
19             至今我的見證人仍在天上,                        Even now my witness is in heaven;
                    我的辯護人還在高天.                                   my advocate is on high.
20                當我向神淚流成河時,                                 My intercessor is my friend
                    我的調停人全是我友;                            as my eyes pour out tears to God;
21                他代表世人向神申訴,                          on behalf of a man he pleads with God
                    正如世人為友好求情.                                 as a man pleads for his friend.
22                踏上一去不返之路前,                                     Only a few years will pass
                    我所剩下歲月無多矣!                           before I go on the journey of no return."
                4. 續陳痛苦(17:1-10):
1                      "我的心靈破碎,                                       "My spirit is broken,
                         我的日子無多,                                      my days are cut short,
                         陰間正等候我.                                        the grave awaits me.
2                      嘲笑我的包圍我,                                 Surely mockers surround me;
                        我雙目祗見敵意.                           my eyes must dwell on their hostility.

3                 神啊! 求賜我你要的保證,                   Give me, O God, the pledge you demand.
                       還有誰肯為我作保?                          Who else will put up security for me?

4                     你蒙閉他們理智之心;                You have closed their minds to understanding;
                       因你不會讓他們得勝.                      therefore you will not let them triumph.
5                     人若為獎賞出賣朋友                   , If a man denounces his friends for reward,
                       他們兒女眼目必昏花.                             the eyes of his children will fail.

6                      神已使我成為人笑柄,                    God has made me a byword to everyone,
                        人人都可向我吐口水.                           a man in whose face people spit.
7                       我的雙目因憂傷昏花,                        My eyes have grown dim with grief;
                         我的身軀亦虛空如影.                          my whole frame is but a shadow.
8                       正直人為之大感驚訝.                          Upright men are appalled at this;
                         無辜者奮起反無神者,                 the innocent are aroused against the ungodly.
9                       只有義人會堅守己道,              Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways,
                         手潔者定必日益壯大.                  and those with clean hands will grow stronger.
10                   你們眾人啊! 起來再努力!                         But come on, all of you, try again!
                         因你們中間竟無一智者.                       I will not find a wise man among you.
                5. 等候死亡(17:11-16):
11                   "隨著我的日子消逝,                 "My day have passed, my plans are shattered,
                我的籌謀和心中所欲全都破滅.                     and so are the desires of my heart.
12                      這些人晝夜顛倒,                                These men turn night into day;
                    面對黑暗竟說, '光明近了!'               in the face of darkness they say, 'Light is near.'

13                    我盼望的家若在陰間,                      If the only home I hope for is the grave,
                        我若在漆黑之中鋪床.                          if I spread out my bed in darkness;
14                 我若對敗壞說, '你是我父;'                   if I say to corruption, 'You are my father,'
                     對蟲兒說, '你是我母我姐.'                  and to the worm, 'My mother or my sister.'
15                   這樣, 我的盼望在那裏?                                  where then is my hope?
                      誰能在我身上看到希望?                              Who can see any hope in me?
16                     會不會走入死亡之門?                         Will it go down to the gates of death?
                         我們會否同沉塵土中?                       Will we descend together into the dust?

     (III) 比勒達答唱(18:1-21):
1 書亞人比勒達答唱, 歌曰:
              1. 再責狡辯(18:1-4):
2                你胡言亂語要到幾時?                         "When will you end these speeches?
                  理智點我們才能對談.                            Be sensible, and then we can talk.
3                我們為何在你心目中,                               Why are we regarded as cattle
                  被視為牲畜和愚蠢呢?                           and considered stupid in your sight?
4                你在忿怒中撕碎自己,                      You who tear yourself to pieces in your rage,
                  難道大地會為你放棄?                       is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?
                  大石會為你移開原處?                     Or must the rocks be moved from their places.
               2. 惡人禍患(18:5-21):
5                    惡人的燈必熄滅,                              The lamp of the wicked is snuffed out;
                      燈燄吹熄暗無光.                                 the flame of his fire stops burning.
6                    他身旁的燈熄滅,                                 The light in his tent becomes dark;
                      帳中無光一片黑.                                     the lamp beside him goes out.
7                    有勁的腳步變弱,                                   The vigor of his step is weakened;
                      謀算把自己絆倒.                                   his own schemes throw him down.
8                    腳把自己陷網羅,                                         His feet thrust him into net
                      掙扎網眼難脫身.                                       and he wanders into the mesh.
9                    陷阱困住他腳跟,                                        A trap seizes him by the heel;
                      羅網緊纏他全身.                                              a snare holds him fast.
10                  套繩為他佈滿地,                                 A nose is hidden for him on the ground;
                      陷阱遍佈他路上.                                                a trap lies in his path.
11                  四周恐怖驚嚇他,                                         Terrors startle him on every side
                      緊密追尋他腳蹤.                                                and dog his every step.
12                  災難緊隨逃不了,                                             Calamity is hungry for him;
                      跌倒更逢禍與災.                                      disater is ready for him when he falls.
13                   死亡長子吃其肢,                                           It eats away parts of his skin;
                       吃去膚皮一大半.                                       death's firstborn devours his limbs.
14                   他從帳中被撕裂,                                     He is torn from the security of his tent
                       帶到恐怖大王前.                                       and marched off to the king of terror.
15                   烈火燃燒在帳中,                                                 Fire resides in his tent;
                       硫磺火燄滿居所.                                   burning sulfur is scaterred over his dwelling.
16                   其根在地下枯乾,                                                 His roots dry up below
                       枝葉在地上凋萎.                                           and his branches wither above.
17                   世上不再記得他,                                  The memory of him perishes from the earth;
                       名在地上全消失.                                              he has no name in the land.
18                   從光明趕入黑暗,                                       He is driven from light into darkness
                       徹底從世上逐出.                                            and is banished from the world.
19                   在族中無子無孫,                        He has no offspring or descendants among his people,
                       居住地無人生還.                                            no surviver where once he lived.
20                    西方人驚其命運,                                      Men of the west are appalled at his fate;
                        東方人膽戰心驚.                                        men of the east are seized with terror.
21                    壞人居所下場慘,                                     Surely such is the dwelling of an evil man;
                       不識神者命亦然.                                    such is the place of one who knows not God."

      (IV) 約伯辯駁(19:1-29):
1            約伯答辯, 歌曰:
               1. 責友過嚴(19:1-12):
2                   你們要折磨我多久,                               "How long will you torment me
                     言語打擊我到幾時?                                   and crush me with words?
3                   你們已十次責備我,                         Ten times now you have reproached me,
                     並毫不為恥攻擊我.                                  shamelessly you attack me.
4                   若我真的偏離正道,                              If it is true that I have gone astray,
                     錯誤由我單獨承擔.                             my error remains my concern alone.
5                   你們若真的凌架我,                     If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me
                     以我的羞辱攻擊我;                              and use my humiliation against me,
6                   就該知道是神懲我,                              then know that God has wronged me
                     在我的四圍撒下網.                                    and drawn his net around me.

7                  我雖呼喊: '我受冤屈!'                               Though I cry, 'I've been wronged!'
                      但總是得不到回應;                                            I got no response;
8                    我呼求得不到公斷,                              though I call for help, there is no justice.
                      祂擋我路不讓通過;                              He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;
9                    又以黑暗遮掩我路.                                he has shrouded my paths in darkness.
                      更剝奪了我的尊榮,                                      He has stripped me of my honor
10                   摘去我頭上的冠冕.                                 and removed the crown from my head.
                       四面撕裂我直至死;                           He tears me down on every side till I am gone;
11                   把我盼望如樹拔起.                                       he uproots my hope like a tree.
                       祂的忿怒向我燃燒,                                         His anger burns against me;
12                   把我當作祂敵中敵.                                      he counts me among his enemies.
                       他的大軍全力衝上,                                          His troops advance in force;
                       構築工事把我圍困,                                     they build a siege ramp against me
                       在我帳棚四周紮營.                                          and encamp around my tent.
                 2. 親友疏遠(19:13-20):
13                  衪使我的弟兄疏離我,                      He has alienated my brothers from me;
                      我的友好視我如陌路.            my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
14                      我的族人離我去,                                My kinsmen have gone away;
                          我的友好忘記我.                               my friends have forgotten me.
15                       客婢待我如路人,               My guests and my maidservants count me a stranger;
                          全都視我如外人.                               they look upon me as an alien.
16                       呼喚家僕無人理;                   I summon my servant, but he does not answer,
                           親口哀求也無用.                          though I beg him with my own mouth.
17                       我的口氣犯妻怒,                              My breath is offensive to my wife;
                           親兄弟也厭惡我.                            I am loathsome to my own brothers.
18                       甚至孩童鄙視我,                                 Even the little boys scorn me;
                           一見到我就嘲笑.                                when I appear, they ridicule me.
19                        所有摯友厭棄我,                               All my intimate friends detest me;
                            我愛的人也反我.                             those I love have turned against me.
20                        我只留下皮包骨,                                I am nothing but skin and bones;
                            脫逃只剩一層皮.                       I have escaped with only the skin of my teeth.
                  3. 求友憐憫(19:21-22):
21               我的朋友啊, 可憐我! 可憐我!                  Have pity on me, my friends, have pity,
                     因神的手正在無情打擊我.                       for the hand of God has struck me.
22                 你們為何像神一樣追逼我?                      Why do you pursue me as God does?
                     難道還沒吃夠我的血和肉?                     Will you never get enough of my flesh?
                  4. 必蒙救恩(19:23-29):
23                    啊! 但願我的話都記下,                       Oh, that my words were recorded,
                            全都寫在書卷上.                           that they were written on a scroll,
24                         用鐵筆鉛頭鐫刻,                that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead,
                            永遠刻在磬石上!                                 or engraved in rock forever!
25                        我深知救贖主活著,                            I know that my Redeemer lives,
                            最後祂必堅立地上.                and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
26                        我的外皮毀壞之後,                         And after my skin has been destroyed,
                            我的肉體必得見神.                                yet in my flesh I will see God;
27                        我自己必會看見衪,                                      I myself will see him
                            是我自己而非別人.                          with my own eyes - I, and not another.
                            我的內心多麼渴望!                              How my heart yearns within me!
28                 你們若說, '我們要怎樣追尋衪?                     If you say, 'How we will hound him,
                            因災禍根源來自衪,                          since the root of the trouble lies on him,
29                        你們都當懼怕刀劍,                            You should fear the sword yourselves;
                            因忿怒必行刀劍刑,                       for wrath will bring punishment by the sword,
                            讓你們知道有審判.'"                    and then you will know that there is judgement.'"

        (V) 瑣法答唱(20:1-29):
1            拿瑪人瑣法答唱, 歌曰:
2              "煩亂思緒促我回答,                      "My trouble thoughts prompt me to answer
                 因我極為困擾不安.                               because I am greatly disturbed.
3              我聽見詆譭我的責備,                           I hear a rebuke that dishonors me,
                我的理性激勵我回答.                     and my understanding inspires me to reply.

4                你們定知亙古開始,                      Surely you know how it has been from of old,
                  地表面上有人以來,                          ever since man was placed on the earth,
5                惡人的歡笑很短暫,                              that the mirth of the wicked is brief,
                  壞人的喜樂只片刻.                         the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.
6                雖他的高傲直達天,                          Though his pride reaches to the heavens
                  他的頭顱高入雲霄,                                and his head troubles the clouds,
7                他將毀滅如已糞土,                           he will perish forever, like his own dung;
             見過他的會問, '他在那裏?'                 those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
8                他如夢飛逝無蹤影;                      like a dream he flies away, no more to be found,
                  被逐消失如夜夢幻.                                 banished like a vision of the night.
9                見過他的不再見他,                        The eye that saw him will not see him again;
                  在他住所也不見他.                                 his place will look on him no more.
10              兒女要向窮人賙濟,                          His children must make amends to the poor;
                  親手返還不義之財.                            his own hands must give back his wealth.
11             他的身體雖充滿活力,                              The youthful vigor that fills his bones

                 卻要與他同歸入塵土.                               will be with him in the dust.
12                罪惡雖甘甜在口,                              Though evil is sweet in his mouth
                         藏在舌下,                                  and he hides it under his tongue,
13                     不捨吐出,                                  though he cannot bear to let it go
                         緊含口中;                                        and keeps it in his mouth,
14              但食物在他胃中變酸,                      yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;
                  成為他體內惡蛇毒液.                 it will become the venon of serpents within him.
15              他要吐出吞下的財寶,                        He will spit out the riches he swallowed;
                  神會使其胃全都嘔出.                      God will make his stomach vomit them up.
23
16               他要吸吮惡蛇的毒液.                           He will suck the poison of serpents;
                   惡蛇的毒牙把他咬死.                            the fangs of an adder will kill him.
17                  他必定享受不到                                   He will not enjoy the streams,
                      流奶與蜜的江河.                           the river flowing with honey and cream.
18                  勞碌所得歸別人;                     What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;
                      營商獲利得不到.                        he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.
19                因他欺壓窮人使貧困,            For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute;
                    強奪不是他建的房屋.                          he has seizes houses he did not build.
20                他確未停止他的貪婪,                    surely he will have no respite from his craving;
                    而他的財富救不了他.                          he cannot save himself by his treasure.
21                他再也無物可供吞噬,                                Nothing is left for him to devour;
                    他的榮華富貴不長久.                                  his peosperity will not endure.
22                在豐裕之中災禍臨頭;                  In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;
                    陷入全面悲慘的境地.                         the full force of misery will come upon him.
23                當他吃得腦滿腸肥時,                                     When he has filled his belly,
                    神的烈怒向他大發作,                         God will vent his burning anger against him
                    有如暴雨猛烈擊打他.                                 and rain down his blows upon him.
24                 他雖逃過了鐵造武器,                               Though he flees from an iron weapon,
                    但銅頭利箭卻射穿他.                                   a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.
25                他把箭從他背後拔出,                                           He pulls it out of his back,
                    閃亮箭頭從肝中拉出.                                     the gleaming point out of his liver.
                    恐怖氣氛籠罩他全身;                                          Terrors will come over him;
26                漆黑正等著他的財寶.                                total darkness lies in wait for his treasure.
                    未扇之火竟把他燒滅,                                      A fire unfanned will consume him
                    吞沒了他帳棚中一切.                                      and devour what is left in his tent.
27                 諸天會揭發他的罪惡,                                      The heavens will expose his guilt;
                    大地也要奮起攻擊他.                                       the earth will rise up against him.
28                  神怒之日洪水來襲;                                          A flood will carry off his house,
                      洪流沖毀他的房舍.                                  rusting waters on the day of God's wrath.
29                  是乃神定惡人命運,                                     Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
                      指定給他們的結局."                                   the heritage appointed for them by God."

      (VI) 約伯辯駁(21:1-34):
1            約伯答辯, 歌曰:
               1. 據理反駁(21:1-6):
2                   請仔細聽我的話,                                  "Listen carefully to my words;
                     算是你們安慰我.                            let this be the consolation you give me.
3                   我說話時請包容,                                     Bear with me while I speak,
                     待我說完再嘲笑.                                and after I have spoken, mock on.

4                    我是向人抱怨嗎?                                Is my complaint directed to man?
                      我為何會不耐煩?                                     Why should I be impatient?
5                    看著我定會驚奇;                                    Look at me and be astonished;
                      你們用手摀著口.                                   clap your hand over your mouth.
6                    一想到此心驚慌,                               When I think about this, I am terrified;
                       全身發抖停不住.                                        trembling seizes my body.
               2. 惡人得福(21:7-16):
7                      惡人為何能活著,                                   Why do the wicked live on,
                        而且長壽勢日隆?                           growing old and increasing in power?
8                       兒女滿堂繞膝下,                  They are their children established around them,
                         子孫繁衍在眼前.                               their offspring before their eyes.
9                        家室平安無所懼,                        Their homes are safe and free from fear;
                          神杖不落他們身.                               the rod of God is not upon them.
10                      公牛交配不落空,                                  Their bulls never fail to breed;
                          母牛懷胎不流產.                             their cows calve and do not miscarry.
11                      兒女滿堂如羊群,                           They send forth their children as a flock;
                          孩童四處歡樂舞.                                    their little ones dance about.
12                      擊鼓彈琴齊歡唱,                      They sing to the music of tambourine and harp;
                          悠揚簫聲怡人心.                          they make merry to the sound of the flute.
13                      繁榮興旺終年歲,                                They spend their years in prosperity
                          平安寧靜下歸陰.                                 and go down to the grave in peace.
14                 但他們對神說: '不要管我!                          Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone!
                          我們不想知你道.                                We have no desire to know your ways.
15                誰是全能者, 要我們服事他?                  Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
                          向衪禱告有何益?                                What would we gain by praying to him?'
16                       興盛不在他們手,                            But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
                           故我遠離惡人會.                           so I stand aloof from the counsel of the wicked.
               3. 惡人報應(21:17-21):
17                        惡人燈何嘗熄滅?            Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out?
                            神何嘗在忿怒中                      How often does calamity come upon him,
                            降災難懲罰惡人?                            the fate God allots in his anger?
18                       惡人何嘗像風前草,                 How often are they like straw before the wind,
                           和強風吹散的糠秕?                          like chaff sweep away by a gale?
19                故有云, '神為惡人兒女積刑罰.'   It is said, 'God stores up a man's punishment for his sons.'
                        神報應他本人使他明白!          Let him repay the man himself, so that he will know it!
20                     讓他親眼目睹自己毀滅,                     Let his own eyes see his destruction;
                         以及喝下全能者的烈怒.                 let him drink of the wrath of the All Mighty.
21                     當他命定的歲月行將盡,       For what does he care about the family he leaves behind,
                         他還能看顧留下的家嗎?                  when his allotted months come to an end?
               4. 惡人下場(21:22-34):
22                         神既審判最高位者,                     Can anyone teach knowledge to God,
                             還需人灌輸知識嗎?                       since he judges even the highest?
23                         有人死時精力充沛,                              One man dies in full vigor,
                             一生享盡平靜安逸,                           completely secure and at ease,
24                          營養充足身體壯健,                                his body well nourished,
                              骨骼充滿滋補骨髓;                             his bones rich with marrow.
25                          有人死時心靈痛苦,                      Another man dies in bitterness of soul,
                              一生從未享受美福.                       never having enjoyed anything good.
26                          兩種人一起臥塵土,                            Side by side they lie in the dust,
                              屍蟲爬滿他們全身.                                 and worns over them both.

27                           我深知你們的心思,                 I know full well what you are thinking,
                               和陷我不義的計謀.             the schemes by which you would wrong me.
28                          你們說, '偉人的豪宅           You say, 'Where now is the great man's house,
                             和惡人的帳棚今何在?'                 the tents where wicked men lived?'
29                          你們沒問過往客旅嗎?          Have you never questioned those who travel?
                              沒有關注他們的說法,             Have you paid no regard to their accounts -

30                         惡人在災難之日能逃過,      that the evil man is spared from the day of calamity,
                             在神忿怒之時能得拯救?             that he is delivered from the day of wrath?
31                           誰當面斥責他的行為?                 Who denounces his conduct to his face?
                              誰對他的行為報應他?                   Who repays him for what he has done?
32                           然而有人抬他入墳墓,                              He is carried to the grave,
                               而且有人為他守墳塋.                         and watch is kept over his tomb.
33                           谷中泥土對他至甘美;                      The soil in the valley is sweet to him;
                               所有的人都尾隨其後;                                 all men follow after him.
                               無數的人走在他前面.                      and a countless throng goes before him.

34                           胡言亂語怎能安慰我?                So how can you console me with your nonsense?
                               你們的答辯只是虛言!"                  Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!"

 IV. 第三次辯論(22:1-26:14):
      (I) 以利法答唱(22:1-30):
1          提縵人以利法以歌答唱:
            1. 對神何益(22:1-3):
2             "世人對神有何益處?                              "Can a man be of benefit to God?
                智者對祂又有何益?                              Can even a wise man benefit him?
3               你若是為人公義,                            What pleasure would it give the Almighty
                 就能討神喜悅嗎?                                          if you were righteous?
                 你若是完美無瑕,                                            What would he gain
                 衪能得到甚麼呢?                                      if your way were blameless?
            2. 作惡報應(22:4-11):
4               衪是因為你的敬虔,                           Is it for your piety that he rebukes you
                 而責備和指控你嗎?                                 and bring charges against you?
5               是否因你罪大惡極?                                  Is not your wickedness great?
                 是否因你罪惡無窮?                                     Are not your sins endless?
6               你無故向你的弟兄                                        You demanded security
                 要求他們提供擔保;                               from your brothers for no reason;
                 你剝去人們的衣服,                               You stripped men of their clothing,
                 使得他們赤身露體.                                          leaving them naked.
7               你不給乾渴人水喝,                                 You gave no water to the weary
                 也不給饑餓人飯吃.                           and you withheld food from the hungry,
8               你雖有權勢擁土地,                       though you were powerful man, owning land -
                  居住其上的尊貴人.                                    an honored man, living on it.
9                而你使寡婦空手走,                        And you send widows away empty handed
                  又讓孤兒軟弱無力.                          and broke the strength of the fatherless.
10              因此網羅環你四周,                            That is why snares are all around you,
                  突來危害令你驚惶,                                  why sudden peril terrifies you,
11              漆黑使你眼不能見,                                 why it is so dark you cannot see,
                  洪流讓你淹滅沒頂.                              and why a flood of water covers you.
             3. 惡人必滅(22:12-20):
12              神不是高在諸天嗎?                           Is not God in the heights of heaven?
                  看高天眾星何其高!                        And see how lofty are the highest stars!
13             而你說, '神知道甚麼?                         Yet you say, 'What does God know?
                 祂是否在黑暗中審判?                       Does he judge through such darkness?
14             他蒙上了雲彩的面紗,                    Thick clouds veil him, so he does not see us
                 雲遊穹蒼看不見我們.'                      as he goes about in the vaulted heavens.'
15              你是否還要繼續行走                                Will you keep to the old path
                 惡人以前行過的古道?                                   that evil men have trod?
16              他們日子未到被帶走,                        They were carried off before their time,
                  根基全被洪水沖流去.                     Their foundations washed away by a flood.
17           他們對神說: '不要管我們!                         They said to God, 'Leave us alone!
                  全能者能奈我們何?'                               What can the Almighty do to us?'
18           而衪卻用美物充滿他們家,             Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things,
               所以我遠遠離開惡人聚會.                 so I stand aloof from the counsel of the wicked.

19             義人見他們毀滅心歡喜,                    The righteous see their ruin and rejoice;
                清白之人則嘲笑他們說:                            the inocent mock them, saying,
20           "我們的仇敵的確全毀滅,                             Surely our foes are destroyed,
                烈火又燒盡他們的財富."                             and fire devours their wealth.'
             4. 與神和好(22:21-30):
21                要順服神與神和好,                         Submit to God and be at peace with him,
                    你定必會繁榮昌盛;                          in the way prosperity will come to you;
22                領受衪的親口教誨,                               Accept instruction from his mouth
                    把他的話牢記心裏.                               and lay up his words in your heart.
23            你若歸向全能者定必興旺;               If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored;
                你若把惡人趕出你的帳棚,                   If you remove wickedness far from your tent
24             並把金塊都埋入在塵土中,                         and assign your nuggets to the dust,
                 將俄斐精金丟入河谷岩石,                   your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines,
25                 全能者就成你的精金                             then the Almighty will be your gold,
                           和上等純銀.                                          the choices silver for you.
26                 這樣你必喜歡全能者                      Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty
                           仰望耶和華.                                      and will lift up your face to God.
27                 你向衪禱告衪會垂聽;                         You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
                           你也會還願.                                         and you will fulfill your vows.
28                     你的決定必成全,                                   What you decide on will be done,
                         明光照耀你的路.                                   and light will shine on your ways.
29                     人降卑時你會說,                              When men are brought low and you say,
                            把他們提升!'                                                   Lift them up!'
                       衪就會拯救沉淪的人.                                then he will save the downcast.
30                    甚至也救有過犯的人                      , He will deliver even one who is not innocent,
                        用你潔淨的手救他們.          who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."

     (II) 約伯辯駁(23:1-24:25):
1          約伯答辯, 歌曰:
             1. 尋不見神(23:1-10):
2               即使今天我仍申訴苦情,                          Even today my complaint is bitter;
                 儘管我呻吟他仍下重手.                    his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
3                但願我知何處去找衪,                              If only I knew where to find him;
                  而且能去到祂的居所!                              if only I could go to his dwelling!
4                我就會向衪申訴冤情,                                I would state my case to him
                  且盡力開口跟祂爭辯.                            and fill my mouth with arguments.
5                我會去尋求衪的回答,                       I would find out what he would answer me,
                  並了解祂要說甚麼話.                              and consider what he would say.
6                衪會全力來對付我嗎?                        Would he oppose me with great power?
                 不, 祂不會強力指控我.                    No, he would not press charges against me.
7               正直的人得以向他陳情,           There an upright man could present his case before him,
                 審判官使我得永遠拯救.                 and I would be delivered forever from my judge.

8                若我往東祂不在那裏;                          But if I go to the east, he is not there;
                  若我往西也找不到祂.                           if I go to the west, I do not find him.
9             衪在北方工作我看不見祂;               When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
               衪轉往南方我也看不見祂.             when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.
10           但衪－定知道我行走的路,                          But he knows the way that I take;
               經祂試煉我像精金見到衪.                when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
             2. 從未背道(23:11-17):
11               我的腳緊隨祂的腳步,                       My feet have closely followed his steps;
                   我謹守祂的道不偏離.                   I have kept to his way without turning aside.
12                我不離棄衪口中誡命;              I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
                   而且珍視祂口中言語,                     I have treasured the words of his mouth
                   更勝過我的日用飲食.                                more than my daily bread.

13               衪堅持立場誰能反對?                           But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?
                   衪隨自己的旨意而行.                                        He does whatever he pleases.
14               衪以衪的律例指控我,                                   He carries out his decree against me,
                   此外他還有很多手段.                                and many such plans he still has in store.
15           這是我在祂面前恐懼的原因;                               That is why I am terrified before him;
                     言念及此我敬畏祂.                                       when I think of all this, I fear him.
16                 神真使我心灰意冷,                                           God has made my heart faint;
                    全能者更令我懼怕.                                            the Almighty has terrified me.
17                 儘管漆黑遮掩我面,                                     Yet I am not silenced by the darkness,
                     我絕不因黑暗閉口.                                  by the thick darkness that covers my face.
             3. 惡人作惡(24:1-25):
1                       為甚麼全能者                                         Why does the Almighty
                        不定審判時間?                                      not set times for judgment?
                         為何認識祂的                                    Why must those who know him
                         都看不見那日?                                        look in vain for such days?
2                       惡人膽大移地界,                                     Men move boundary stones;
                         放牧偷來的羊群．.                            they pasture flocks they have stolen.
3                       趕走孤兒的母驢,                               They drive away the orphan's donkey
                         寡婦公牛作抵押.                                  and take the widow's ox in pledge.
4                       窮人被逐離大道,                                They thrust the needy from the path
                         貧民被逼都躲藏.                           and force all the poor of the land into hiding.
5                       活像曠野的驢子,                                      Like wild donkeys in the desert,
                         窮人四處覓食物;                          the poor go about their labor of foraging food;
                         荒野供食養兒女.                           the wasteland provides food for their children.
6                       田野收割牧草料,                                       They gather fodder in the fields
                         惡人園中收殘葡.                                and glean in the vineyards of the wicked.
7                       無衣蔽體夜裸露,                              Lacking clothes, they spend the night naked;
                         無遮無蓋度寒冬.                          they leave nothing to cover themselves in the cold.
8                       山雨傾盆周身濕,                                    They are drenched by mountain rains
                         無處安身緊抱石.                                      and hug the rocks for lack of shelter.
9                       慈母乳前奪孤兒,                             The fatherless child is snatched from the breast;
                         窮人嬰兒來抵債.                                   the infant of the poor is seized for a debt.
10                     赤身露體四處走,                                      Lacking clothes, they go about naked;
                         雖抱禾捆仍饑餓.                                   they carry the sheaves, but still go hungry.
11                     田間壓搾橄欖油,                                       They crush olives among the terrance;
                         踩葡釀酒仍乾渴.                                   they tread the winepresses, yet suffer thirst.
12                     城民將死苦呻吟,                                      The groans of the dying rise from the city,
                         受傷心靈哀呼求.                                 and the souls of the wounded cry out for help.
                         神卻不究惡人行.                                      But God changes no one with wrongdoing.

13                     又有人以光為敵,                    There are those who rebel against the light,
                         不知留在光明道.                   who do not know its way or stay in its paths.
14                     落日西沉凶手起,                   When daylight is gone, the murderer rises up
                         殺害窮人與貧困;                               and kills the poor and needy;
                         黑夜作賊忙偷竊. i                        n the night he steals forth like a thief.
15                     姦夫張目盼黃昏,                       The eyes of the adulterer watches for dusk;
                         自以無人看見他.                                 he thinks, 'No eye will see me,'
                         賊子膽大把面蒙,                                and he keeps his face concealed.
16                      月黑風高破門入,                             In the dark, men break into houses,
                         白日明亮躲起來,                               but by day they shut thenselves in;
                         膽怯心驚怕見光.                             they want nothing to do with the light.
17                      惡人黑夜當清晨,                     For all of them, deep darkness is their morning;
                         漆黑恐怖作摯友.                      they make friends with the terrors of darkness.

18                      惡人如泡浮水面,                  Yet they are foam on the surface of the water;
                          分地所得受咒詛,                             their portion of the land is cursed,
                          無人再入葡萄園.                           so that no one goes to the vineyards.
19                       苦旱天熱融化雪,               As heat and drought snatches away the melted snow,
                           一如陰間拘罪人.                so the grave snatches away those who have sinned.
20                       懷他母胎不認他,                                    The womb forgets them,
                           蛆蟲以他為美宴;                                    the worm feast on them;
                           惡人折斷如林木,                            evil men are no longer remembered
                           世上無人記得他.                                    but are broken like a tree.
21                       一意惡待不孕婦,                     They prey on the barren and childless woman,
                           糟蹋寡婦不留情.                              and to the widow show no kindness.
22                        神以大能除強暴;                      But God drags away the mighty by his power;
                             惡人在世雖橫行,                               though they become established,
                             但其生命難確保.                                  they have no assurance of life.
23                         神雖容他感安穩,                        He may let them rest in a feeling of security,
                             雙目緊盯不放鬆.                                  but his eyes are on their ways.
24                         祂容惡人暫高舉,                                 For a little while they are exalted,
                             片刻之間全消失;                                        and then they are gone;
                             又被降卑如他人,                    they are bought low and gathered up like all others;
                             一如禾稻被收割.                                 they are cut off like heads of grain.
25                         以上所言若非真,                                                If this is not so,
                             誰能證明我說假;                                         who can prove me false;
                             都是空言不當真."                                 and reduce my words to nothing?"

     (III) 比勒達答唱(25:1-6):
1          書亞人比勒達答唱, 歌曰:
2               "主權威嚴均屬神,                                  "Dominion and awe belong to God;
                   衪在高天定秩序.                          he establishes order in the height of heaven.
3                 衪的天軍誰能數?                                      Can his forces be numbered?
                   衪的亮光不照誰?                                  Upon whom does his light not rise?
4                 神前誰能成義人?                          How then can a man be righteous before God?
                   婦人所生怎純淨?                                 How can one born of woman be pure?
5                  即使皎月不明亮,                                       If even the moon is not bright
                    星宿也都不潔淨.                                 and the stars are not pure in his eyes,
6                  何況如蛆世間人-                              how much less man, who is but a maggot -
                   人子不過像條蟲!"                                   a son of man, who is only a worm!"
        (IV) 約伯辯駁(26:1-14):
1              約伯答辯, 歌曰:
                1. 譏笑問者(26:1-4):
2                  你如何幫助無權勢者?                        "How you have helped the powerless!
                    如何拯救臂膀無力者?                    How you have saved the arm that is feeble!
3                  你如何教導沒智慧者!             What advice you have offered to one without wisdom!
                    展現你有多大的智慧!                     And what great insight you have displayed!
4                  誰助你發出這些言語?                        Who has helped you utter these words?
                    誰的靈藉你的口說話?                      And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?
                2. 讚神偉大(26:5-14):
5                      身在水底的陰魂,                                The dead are in deep anguish,
                        深陷痛苦不堪言.                  those beneath the waters and all that live in them.
6                      神前陰魂都赤裸                                    Death is naked before God;
                        毀滅裸露無遮掩.                                   Destruction lies uncovered.
7                      衪在穹蒼展北天,                  He spreads out the northern skies over empty space;
                        大地高懸在太空.                                he suspends the earth over nothing.
8                      以雲包水密不漏,                                He wraps up the waters in his clouds,
                        水重不使雲破裂.                         yet the clouds do not brust under their weight.
9                       衪遮蓋滿月表面,                                 He covers the face of the full moon,
                         以彩雲遮掩其上.                                        spreading his clouds over it.
10                     衪劃定水的平面,                      He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters
                         分開光明與黑暗.                             for a boundary between light and darkness.
11                      衪一忿怒嚴斥責,                                     The pillars of the heavens quake,
                          高天巨柱猛動搖.                                              aghast at his rebuke.
12                      他顯大能攪大海,                                  By his power he churned up the sea;
                          智慧粉碎拉哈伯.                                 by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces.
13                       衪吹口氣天睛朗;                                  By his breath the skies became fair;
                           以手刺透滑行蟒.                                  his hand peirced the gliding serpent.
14                    這只是祂大工的表面,                       And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
                        我們聽到他言多微弱!                               how faint the whisper we hear of him!
                       誰能參透他大能雷聲?                   Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"

   V. 約伯結論(27:1-23):
1     約伯繼續講論並作結, 唱曰:
      (I) 行義不渝(27:1-6):
2         永活神奪我公平正義,                     As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice,
           全能者令我靈裏痛苦.                the Almighty, who has made me taste bitterness of soul.
3         只要我裏面還有生命,                                   as long as I have life within me,
           鼻孔中還有神賜氣息,                                   the breath of God in my nostrils,
4         我就口不說邪惡的話,                                  my lips will not speak wickedness,
           我的舌不出詭詐之言.                                  and my tongue will utter no deceit.
5         我不承認你們是對的,                                I will never admit you are in the right;
           到死不否定我的人格.                                  till I die, I will not deny my integrity.
6         我永遠堅持我的公義,                     I will maimtain my righteousness and never let go of it;
           有生之年對得起良心.                       my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.
      (II) 不虔無望(27:7-23):
7        願我的敵人如邪惡之人,                                May my enemies be like the wicked,
          願我的仇家像不義之徒!                                    my adversaries like the unjust!
8        神剪除不虔之徒奪其命,                       For what hope has the godless when he is cut off,
          他們在世還有甚麼指望?                                    when God takes away his life?
9         每當災難臨到他的時候,                                       Does God listen to his cry
          神還會垂聽他的哀求嗎?                                    when distress comes upon him?
10      他會從全能者得歡樂嗎?                                  Will he find delight in the Almighty?
          還能時時刻刻呼求神嗎?                                   will he call upon God at all times?

11      我要教導你們神的大能,                                I will teach you about the power of God;
          不會去隱瞞全能者的道.                              the ways of the Almighty I will not conceal.
12        你們全都親眼目睹過,                                       You have all seen this yourselves,
           為何還說這些無謂話?                                         Why then this meaningless talk?

13        這是神定惡人的命運,                          Here is the fate God allots to the wicked,
            全能者給暴徒的報應:               the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty:
14        他許多兒女命喪刀下,                   However many his children, their fate is the sword;
            子孫也永遠都吃不飽.                         his offspring will never have enough to eat.
15         瘟疫會埋葬他的後人,                        The plague will bury those who survive him,
             他們的寡婦欲哭無淚.                           and their widows wil not weep for them.
16         雖他堆積白銀如塵沙,                              Though he heaps up silver like dust
             華麗衣裝堆積如泥土;                                   and clothes like piles of clay,
17             任由義人來穿著,                              What he lays up the righteous will wear,
                 隨便善人來分銀.                                and the innocent will divide his silver.
18             他建的屋如蛾繭,                            The house he builds is like a moth's cocoon,
                 又如守衛瞭望寮.                                      like a hut made by a watchman.
19             他躺下富有不再,                            He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more;
                 張眼財富全消失.                                    when he opens his eyes, all is gone.
20             恐怖如洪來襲他,                                       Terrors overtake him like a flood;
                暴風深夜颳走他.                                 a tempest snatches him away in the night.
21            東風吹走他無蹤,                              The east wind carries him off, and he is gone;
                將他從原地掃出.                                         it sweeps him out of his place.
22            毫不留情傷害他,                                 It hurts itself against him without mercy
                迎頭頂力急奔逃.                                    as he fleets headlong from its power.
23            嘲笑聲中人拍手,                                           It claps its hands in derision
                唏噓之聲趕他走.                                         and hisses him out of his place.

                                        約伯記新譯
                       第二章 對話與辯論(3:1-27:23)

  I. 約伯哀歌(3:1-26):
      靜坐七晝夜後, 約伯開口咒詛自己的生日, 高吟哀歌:
     (I) 咒詛生日(3:1-10):
                       新 譯                                                      英 文
2            願我生的那日消失,                          May the day of my birth perish,
        喊 "生了個男孩!" 那夜泯滅.              and the night it was said, 'A boy is born!'
4              願那日變得黑暗,                         That day - may it turn to darkness;
                天上神不再眷顧,                           may God above not care about it;
                亮光也不再照射.                                 may no light shine upon it.
5              願黑暗死蔭再來,               May darkness and deep shadow claim it once more;
                烏雲遮蓋在其上,                                  may a cloud settle over it;
                黑暗掩沒了光明.                            may blackness overwhelm its light.
6              幽暗更奪去那夜,                        That night - may thick darkness seize it;;
                不在一年日子中,                 may it not be included among the days of the year
                也不列入每月裏.                            nor be entered in any of the months.

7               願那夜無人生育,                                     May that night be barren;
                 也聽不到歡笑聲.                               may no shout of joy be heard in it.
8             願咒詛日子惹海怪的                        May those who curse days curse that day,
                  都同聲咒詛那日.                           those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.
9                願晨星昏暗無光,                               May its morning stars became dark;
                  等待日光也徒然,                                   may it wait for daylight in vain
              看不見黎明第一道曙光.                            and not see the first rays of dawn.
10           因那夜懷我的子宮未關,                 for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me
               讓我看不見隱藏的災難.                                to hide trouble from my eyes.

     (II) 寧願夭折(3:11-19):
11                我何不生下夭折,                                     Why did I not perish at birth,
                   一出母腹就死亡?                                  and die as I came from the womb?
12                為何有雙膝迎我,                                Why were there knees to receive me
                    還有乳哺育我呢?                                 and breasts that I might be nursed?
13                 否則我早就安躺,                             For now I would be lying down in peace;
                     舒適沉睡得安息;                                    I would be asleep and at rest
14                 與世上自建陵墓                               with kings and counselors of the earth,
                     的君王謀士同睡;                     who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,
15                 和擁有滿屋金銀                                          with rulers who had gold,
                     的王侯權貴同眠.                                   who filled their houses with silver.
16                 我為何不像埋地           Or why was I not hidden in the ground like a stillborn child,
                     永不見天日死胎?                          like an infant who never saw the light of day?
17                那裏惡人不再作惡,                                There the wicked cease from turmoil,
                    疲乏的人得到安息.                                    and there the weary are at rest.
18                被擄的奴得享安寧,                                      Captives who enjoy their ease;
                    再聽不見酷吏吆喝.                            they no longer hear the slave driver's shout.
19                老少尊卑全聚那裏,                                    The small and the great are there,
                    奴隸脫主得到自由.                                  and the slave is freed from his master.

      (III) 厭惡生存(3:20-26):
20                為何光要賜給苦難人,                    Why is light given to those in misery,
                    生命要賜給愁苦的人?                           and life to the bitter of soul,
21                他們渴望死卻死不了,             to those who long for death that does not come,
                    尋死的多過找財寶的,             who search for it more than for hidden treasure,
22                    有誰下到了陰間                                who are filled with gladness
                        仍然歡喜又快樂?                      and rejoice when they reach the grave?
23                    生命為何要賜給                                 Why is life given to a man
                        前途茫茫無去路                                      whose way is hidden,
                        又被神圍困的人?                                 whom God has hedged in?
24                    我以哀歎替食物,                        For sighing comes to me instead of food;
                        呻吟之聲如泉湧.                                my groans pour out like water.
25                    我害怕的衝向我,                              What I feared has come upon me;
                        恐懼的紛至沓來.                            What I dreaded has happened to me.
26                     我不得安寧平靜,                                I have no peace no quietness;
                        沒安息只有不安.                                I have no rest, but only turmoil."

 II. 第一次辯論(4:1-14:22):
     (I) 以利法答唱(4:1-5:27):
1         提縵人以利法聽約伯唱哀歌後, 以歌答唱:
                                 新 譯                                                  英 文
           1  責難約伯(4:1-5):
2                       人若以言刺激你,                    If someone venture a word with you,
                         你能忍受得了嗎?                              will you be impatient?
                         誰能忍住不說話?                          But who can keep speaking?
3                        試想你教過多人,                   Think how you have instructed many,
                          堅固過不少弱手.                 how you have strengthened feeble hands.
4                        你的話扶趺倒人,             Your words have supported those who stumbled;
                          也堅固過無力膝.                 how you have strengthened faltering knees.
5                        但現災難降你身,                            But now trouble comes to you,
                          使你灰心又喪志;                                and you are discouraged;
                          打擊你使你驚惶.                        it strikes you, and you are dismayed.
            2. 賞善罰惡(4:6-11):
6                       你不是自信敬畏神                     Should not your piety be your confidence
                         且盼望完美無瑕嗎?                        and your blameless ways you hope?
7                              請想一想:                                              Consider now:
                         無辜的人有誰滅亡?                     Who, being innocent, has ever perished?
                         正直的人有誰毀滅?                      Where were the upright ever destroyed?
8                      依我所見, 耕耘罪惡                          As I have observed, those plow evil
                        播種災禍, 必收惡果.                          and those who sow trouble reap it.
9                       神吹口氣就必毀滅;                      At the breath of God they are destroyed;
                         祂一發怒就必滅亡.                          at the blast of his anger they perish.
10                      雄獅咆哮發出怒吼,                               The lions may roar and growl,
                         猛獅利齒全都斷裂.                      yet the teeth of the great lions are broken.
11                     公獅因無獵物死亡,                              The lion perishes for lack of prey,
                         母獅幼子流離分散.                        and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
           3. 世人卑微(4:12-21):
12                       有話暗中傳給我,                     A word was secretly brought to me,
                           耳中聽見細言語.                        my ears caught a whisper of it.
13                       夜間不安睡夢中,                   Amid disquieting dreams in the night,
                           當世人沉睡夢鄉;                         when deep sleep falls on men,
14                       恐懼戰慄籠罩我,                           fear and trembling seized me
                          全身骨頭都戰抖.                           and made all my bones shake.
15                       幽靈掠過我面前,                             A spirit glided past my face,
                           毛骨悚然髮直豎.                     and the hair on my body stood on end.
16                       那靈突然停下來,                                          It stopped,
                           我卻難辨是何物.                            but I could not tell what it was.
                           只見有形站我前,                             A form stood before my eyes,
                           又聞輕聲對我說:                              and I heard a hushed voice:
17                     "人能比神更公義                    "Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
                          比創造主更純淨?                    Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
18                       神若不信其僕人,                       If God places no trust in his servants,
                           指責天使犯過錯;                         if he charges his angels with error,
19                       何況那些住泥屋,               how much more those who live in houses of clay,
                           池基建在塵土上,                             whose foundations are in dust,
                           易碎如蛾的人呢!                   who are crushed more readily than a moth!

20                       早晚必被壓粉碎,               Between dawn and dusk they are broken to pieces;
                           不知不覺永毀滅.                                   unnoticed, they forever.
21                       帳棚繩索被拔起,                        Are not the cords of their tent pulled up,
                           死得毫無智慧嗎?."                           so that they die without wisdom?"
           4. 必受苦難(5:1-7):
1                         儘管呼求誰回應?                 Call if you will, but who will answer you?
                           你轉向那個聖者?                  To which of the holy ones will you turn?
2                          憎恨殺死愚昧人,                               Resentment kills a fool,
                            嫉妒誅滅平庸人.                            and envy slays the simple.
3                          我見愚人扎下根,                     I myself have seen a fool taking root,
                            其家卻突受咒詛.                       but suddenly his house was cursed.
4                          他的兒女不安寧,                          His children are far from safety,
                            受審無人作辯護.                       crushed in court without a defender.
5                          饑民吃盡他收成,                           he hungry consume his harvest,
                            荊棘遺糧不放過;                         taking it even from among thorns,
                            乾渴之人望財富.                        and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
6                          艱苦並非從地發,                    For hardship does not spring from the soil,
                            災難也非地中萌.                     nor does trouble sprout from the ground.
7                          因人生來受苦難,                                Yet mam is born to trouble
                           一如火花向上揚.                               as surely as sparks fly upward.
           5. 全指望神(5:8-16):
8                          若我必向神申訴,                   But if it were I, I would appeal to God;
                            在衪面前訴衷情.                       I would lay my cause before him.
9                          祂行神蹟深莫測;            He performs wonders that can not be fathomed,
                            衪行奇事難勝數.                        miracals that cannot be counted.
10                        衪降雨滋潤大地,                           He bestows rain on the earth;
                            送水去灌溉田野.                     he sends water upon the countryside.
11                        衪置低微於高位,                               The lowly he sets on high,
                            讓哀傷者得安穩.                   and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12                         挫敗奸人的計謀,                        He thwarts the plans of the crafty,
                            使他手作難成功.                     so that their hands achieve no success.
13                         智者之精算失算,                     He catches the wise in their craftiness,
                            狡者之詭謀挫敗.                  and the schemes of the wily are swept away.
14                        漆黑白日罩全地,                   Darkness comes upon them in the daytime;
                            響午暗中窮摸索.                          at noon they gope as in the night.
15                         救貧困離口中劍,              He saves the needy from the sword in that mouth;
                            逃過強人手中杖.                he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.
16                         使窮人都有指望,                                 So the poor have hope,
                             不義者閉口無言.                             and injustice shuts its mouth.
             6. 受懲得福(5:17-27):
17                        神糾正的人有福,                 Blessed is the man whom God corrects;
                           勿輕全能者管教.           so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
18                        祂弄傷親自包紮,                   For he wounds, but he also binds up;
                           祂打傷親手醫治.                     he injures, but his hands also heal.
19                        六次遭難祂救你,                    From six calamities will rescue you;
                           即使七次也無恙.                      in seven no harm will befall you.
20                       逢饑荒救你離死亡,              In famine he will ransom you from death,
                           戰場上不受刀砍殺.              and in battle from the stroke of the sword.
21                        保你不受口舌害,          You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,
                           不必害怕禍臨頭.               and need not fear when destruction comes.
22                       災難饑荒一笑了,                 You will laugh at destruction and famine,
                           地上野獸不必怕.                 and need not fear the beasts of the earth.
23                       你與田間石立約,   For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field,
                           與野獸和平相處.              and the wild animals will be at peace with you.
24                       你知道帳棚安穩,                     You will know that your tent is secure;
                           盤點家產無所失. you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.
25                        兒孫繁衍眾又多,               You will know that your children will be many
                            後裔繁盛如青草.             and your descendants like the grass of the earth.
26                        壽高體健才歸陰,                    You will come to the grave in full vigor,
                            如禾捆到時收集.                          like sheaves gathered in season.

27                       "我們細察均屬實;                     "we have examined this, and it is true.
                            你要細聽身力行."                        So hear it and apply it to yourself."

   (II) 約伯辯駁(6:1-7:21):
1         約伯答辯, 歌曰:
                                     新 譯                                                    英 文
            1. 自述苦況(6:1-7):
2                          願我的痛苦可過稱,                  "If only my anguish could be weighed
                            我的厄運可上天平!                 and all my misery be place on the scales!
3                           定必比海沙更沉重,             I would surely outweigh the sand of the seas -
                             難怪我的言語急躁.               no wonder my words have been impetuous.
4                           全能主的箭射中我,                    The arrows of the Almighty are in me,
                             我的靈在喝箭中毒;                         my spirit drinks in their poison;
                             神集中恐怖攻擊我.                    God's terrors are marshaled against me.
5                           野驢有草還哀嘶嗎?                  Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass,
                             公牛有料還窮叫嗎?                       or an ox bellow when it has fodder?
6                            無味的食物不加鹽,                       Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
                             蛋白之中會有味嗎?                     or is there flavor in the white of an egg?
7                            這些食物令我惡心,                                    I refuse to touch it,
                              我絕對不會去親嚐.                                  such food makes me ill.
              2. 願神剪除(6:8-13):
8                             "但願我得我所求,                  "Oh, that I might have my request,
                                神施恩賜我所盼.                 that God would grant what I hope for,
9                              願神把我全粉碎,                 that God would be willing to crush me,
                                放手把我盡剪除!                   to let loose his hand and cut me off!
10                            這樣我還得安慰,                  Then I would still have this consolation -
                                極端痛苦仍歡欣,                           my joy in unrelenting pain -
                                因我未棄聖者道.            that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.

11                          "是何力量使我有望?         "What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
                               甚麼遠景使我忍耐?                What prospects, that I should be patient?
12                           我有石頭般氣力嗎?                        Do I have the strength of stone?
                               我的肉體壯如銅嗎?                                  Is my flesh bronze?
13                            成功既被剝奪無遺,                      Do I have any power to help myself,
                               我有力量幫自己嗎?                 now that success has been driven from me?
               3. 責友乏愛(6:14-23):
14                "即使心不敬畏全能者  "A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends,
                     絕望者亦應信任友好,          even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15                 我的弟兄像間歇山溪, But my brothers are as undependable as intermitent streams,
                     又像溢洪河川不可靠;                         as the streams that overflow.
16                        融冰激濁流,                             when darkened by thawing ice
                            融雪河水漲,                             and swollen with melting snow,
17                         旱季水斷流,                      but that cease to flow in the dry season ,
                             遇熱河中消.                    and in the heat vanish from their channels.
18                        商隊偏離原道,                      Caravans turn aside from their routes;
                            行上荒野死亡.                   they go up into the wasteland and perish.
19                        提瑪商隊尋水,                       The caravans of Tema look for water,
                            示巴商旅企盼.                the traveling merchants of Sehba look in hope.
20                         因抱信心沮喪;          They are distressed because they had been confident;
                             到了那裏失望.                    they arrive there, only to be disappointed.
21                        足證你孤立無援,                   Now you too have proved to be of no help;
                            見災禍心中害怕.                   you see something dreadful and are afraid.
22                   我不是說過: '請代我付出,          have I ever said, 'Give something on my behalf,
                         以你的財富為我付贖金,                 pay a ransom for me from your wealth,
23                      從敵人的手中把我救出,                deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
                          從暴徒牢中把我贖出嗎?'           ransom me from the clutches of the ruthless?'
                 4. 勸友公平(6:24-30):
24                            請教我我會靜聽;                           Teach me, and I will be quiet,
                               告訴我錯在耶裏.                       show me where I have been wrong.
25                            說話誠實多痛苦!                          How painful are honest words!
                               爭辯能證明甚麼?                       But what do your arguments prove?
26                           你們要糾正我言,                         Do you mean to correct what I say,
                               視絕望人語如風?           and treat the words of a despairing man as wind?
27                          你們要抽籤得孤兒,                  You would even cast lots for the fatherless
                              把朋友當作物交換.                             and barter away your friend.

28                          請你們好好看著我,                        But now be so kind as to look at me,
                              我會當你們面說謊?                                Would I lie to your face?
29                          要悔改不要不公道,                                 Relent, do not be unjust;
                              再考慮勿傷我人格.                       reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.
30                          我的舌還是邪惡嗎?                         Is there any wickedness on my lips?
                              我的口不辨奸惡嗎?                          Can my mouth not discern malice?
                5. 人生愁苦(7:1-10):
1                      人生在世怎能不作地上苦役?           Does not man have hard service on earth?
                        他的日子怎能不與雇工一樣?           Are not his days like those of a hired man?
2                         像奴僕終日盼黃昏日影,             Like a slave longing for the evening shadows,
                           像雇工朝夕望早發工資.             or a hired man waiting eagerly for the wages,
3                         我一生也度過虛空歲月,                 so I have been allotted months of futility,
                           熬過了無數的悲慘黑夜.           and nights of misery have been assigned to me.
4                         我躺下想多久才會起來?      When I lie down I think, 'How long before I get up?'
                           長夜漫漫我輾轉至天明.                 The night drags on, and I toss till dawn.
5                              我身上長滿蟲疥,                    My body is clothed with worms and scabs,
                                弄得我皮破膿流.                             my skin is broken and festering.

6                               我日子飛逝如梭,           My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle,
                                 衝向沒盼望終點.                   and they to an end without hope.
7                      神啊! 我的生命只不過是口氣;  Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;
                             我的眼目永見不到福樂.           my eyes will never see happiness again.
8                          看我的眼, 再也看不見我;    The eye that now sees me will see me no longer;
                           你們想找我, 再也找不到我.       you will look for me, but I will be no more.
9                             像天上雲彩消散無蹤,                    As a cloud vanishes and is gone,
                               如陰間的人一去無回.    so he who goes down to the grave does not return.
10                            永遠回不了自己的家,               He will never come to his house again;
                                故鄉不再有人認識他.                    his place will know him no more.
                6. 怨神過嚴(7:11-21):
11                     "因此我不再靜默;                       "Therefore, I will not keep silent;
                          大聲說出靈憂傷,                 I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit,
                           盡情傾訴心中苦.                I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12                      我豈是大洋或海怪.                Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep,
                         你竟令守衛看守我?                         that you put me under guard?
13                     當我想床會安慰我,                     When I think my bed will comfort me
                         我的臥榻會減悲情;                     and my couch will ease my complaint;
14                      你還是用惡夢嚇我,                    even then you frighten me with dreams
                          顯怪異象使我惶恐;                               and terrify me with vision;
15                      因此我寧願上吊死                         so that I prefer strangling and death,
                          也不願意留住軀體.                             rather than this body of mine.
16               我厭惡生命, 不願永遠活下去;               I despise my life; I could not live forever.
                   就任由我吧, 因我日子沒意義.               Let me alone; my days have no meaning.

17                 人算甚麼, 你竟這樣看重他,           What is man that you make so much of him,
                            這樣特別看顧他,                       that you give him so much attention,
18                         每天早晨察看他,                       that you examine him every morning
                             無時無刻試煉他?                            and test him every moment?
19                         求你永不看著我,                         Will you never look away from me,
                             即使片刻不管我?                        or let me alone even for an instant?
20                         鑒察世人的主啊!                     If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
                             我犯罪與你何干?                                     O watcher of men?
                             為何把我當箭靶?                       Why have you made me your target?
                             難道我成你負擔?                           Have I become a burden to you?
21                         為何不赦我過犯,                         Why do you not pardon my offenses
                             也原諒我的罪惡?                                     and forgive my sins?
                             因我快要歸塵土,                          For I will soon lie down in the dust;
                         你們找我, 我卻不在了!"              you will search for me, but I will be no more."

(III) 比勒達答唱(8:1-22):
1       書亞人比勒達答唱, 歌曰:                               Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
                          新 譯                                                             英 文
         1. 公正無私(8:1-7):
2             "你這樣說要到幾時?                              "How long will you say such things?
                你的話像一陣狂風.                                 Your words are a blustering wind.
3              神怎會妨礙公義呢?                                       Does God prevent justice?
                當你的兒女得罪衪.                            Does the Almighty prevent what is right?
4              全能者會不公正嗎?                             When your children sinned against him,
                只交出他們受懲罰.                          he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
5              你若真誠仰望真神,                                         But if you will look to God
                並且向全能主懇求;                                       and plead with the Almighty,
6              你若既純潔又正直,                                        If you are pure and upright,
                祂必為你挺身而出,                          even now he will rouse himself on your behalf
                恢復你公義的地位.                                 and restore you to your rightful place.
7              你開始時似甚卑微,                                    Your beginnings will seem humble,
                但將來必繁榮昌盛.                                     so prosperous will your future be.
          2. 唯有靠神(8:8-19):
8            請你去問問以前的世代,                                      Ask the former generations
              他們列祖得到甚麼教訓;                            and find out what their fathers learned,
9            因我們昨日才生無所知,                   for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,
              我們在世日子只是影兒.                            and our days on earth are but a shadow.
10          難道他們沒教你告訴你?                              Will they not instruct you and tell you?
              他們沒有說出理解的話?              Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?
11              蒲草無泥怎能生長?                        Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?
                  蘆葦無水怎能茂盛?                                    Can reeds thrive without water?
12               正在生長未收割時,                                      While still growing and uncut,
                   比青草還枯萎得快.                                 they wither more quickly than grass.
13               這是忘記神者命運,                              Such is the destiny of all who forget God;
                   無神者希望的幻滅.                                  so perishes the hope of the godless.
14               他信靠的脆弱易碎,                                          What he trust in is fragile;
                   他依賴的只是蛛網.                                     what he relies on is spider's web.
15               他依靠蛛網卻網破;                                  He leans on his web, but it gives way;
                   他緊抓網子卻抓空.                                    he clings to it, but it does not hold.
16               像陽光下足水作物,                            He is like a well-watered plant in the sunshine,
                   嫩枝處處長滿全園;                                   spreading its shoots over the garden;
17               根條盤繞在石堆間,                                 it entwines its root around a pile of rocks
                   在石頭中找扎根處.                                  and looks for a place among the stones.
18               但他若就地被拔出,                                        But when it is torn from its spot,
                  地會說從未見過你,                             that place disowns it and says, 'I never saw you.'
19               他的生命就此凋逝,                                            Surely its life withers away,
                  別的植物自會長出.                                       and from the soil other plants grow.
          3. 神保義人(8:20-22):
20               神的確不棄無瑕人,                                 Surely God does not reject a blameless man
                   也不會增強惡人手.                                        or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
21               衪使你口充滿歡笑,                                      He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
                   讓你的嘴發出歡呼.                                             and your lips with shouts of joy.
22               使你仇敵身披羞辱,                                        Your enemies will be clothed in shame,
                   惡人帳棚永遠消失.                                    and the tents of the wicked will be no more."

    (IV) 約伯辯駁(9:1-10:22):
1          約伯答辯, 歌曰:
            1. 神的智能(9:1-12):
2               我深知道這些都是事實,                              Indeed, I know that this is true.
                 但人在神面前怎能稱義?                  But how can a mortal be righteous before God?
3               雖然有人妄想與祂爭辯,                        Though one wished to dispute with him,
                 千次之中他也不能答一.               he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
4               衪的智慧深奧能力巨大;                       His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.
                 抗拒衪的誰能全身而退?                  Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
5                衪不知不覺中移山倒海;                   He moves mountains without thier knowing it
                  在祂的怒氣中翻轉山巒.                              and overturns them in his anger.
6                   大地為之震動移位,                               He shakes the earth from its place
                     地的支柱不住動搖.                                   and makes its pillars tremble.
7                   祂向日言日就無光;                         He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;
                     祂把星光全都封住.                                  he seals off the light of the stars.
8                   衪獨自把蒼天展開,                                 He alone stretches out the heavens
                     怡然步行海浪之上.                                 and treads on the waves of the sea.
9                   祂造北斗獵戶星座,                               He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,
                     金牛七星南方星群.                        the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10                  衪行神蹟高深莫測,                        He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
                      又作奇事不可勝數.                                    miracles that cannot be counted.
11               衪從我身邊過我看不見;                             When he passes me, I cannot see him;
                   在我面前行走我不察覺.                            when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
12                  祂若奪取誰能攔阻?                               If he snatches away, who can stop him?
                    誰敢問衪, '你幹甚麼?'                            Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'
           2. 為罪受苦(9:13-35):
13                 神從不抑制衪的怒氣,                                   God does not restrain his anger,
              即使拉哈伯死黨在衪腳下也畏縮.                 even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.
14                 那我怎麼敢跟祂爭辯?                                  How then can I dispute with him?
                     用甚麼言詞跟衪辯論?                             How can I find words to argue with him?
15                 我雖無辜也無言以對,                         Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;
                     只向審判我的求憐憫.                             I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.
16                 即使我呼求衪也回應;                             Even if I summoned him and he responded,
                     我真不相信衪會垂聽.                             I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
17                   反會用暴風擊打我,                                        He would crush me with a storm
                       無理加重我的創傷.                                   and multiply my wounds for no reason.
18                   祂不會讓我喘口氣,                                     He would not let me regain my breath
只                      會使我更加悲慘.                                      but would overwhelm me with misery.
19                    論力量衪大有能力!                                  If it is a matter of strength , he is mighty!
                        論審判誰能傳喚祂?                     And if it is a matter of justice, who will summon him?

20             即使我無辜, 我的口也會譴責我;       Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;
                 即使我無瑕, 他們也會判我有罪.            if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.

21                          我雖然完美,                                        Although I am blameless,
                              卻不顧自己;                                     I have no concern for myself;
                              更厭惡己命.                                          I despise my own life.
22                     若都一樣, 所以我說:                           If it is all the same, that is why I say,
                   衪把完美的人和惡人一起毀滅.'            He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.'
23                     當災難突然使人喪命,                           When a scourge brings sudden death,
                         祂嘲笑無辜者的遭遇.                           he mocks the despair of the innocent.
24                      當世界落在惡人手中,                    When a land falls into the hands of the wicked,
                         衪蒙蔽審判官的眼目.                                      he blindfolds its judges.
                         若不是衪, 還有誰呢?                                   if it is not he, then who is it?

25                   我的日子飛逝比飛毛腿快,                            My days are swifter than a runner;
                       日子如飛逝去卻不見喜樂.                         they fly away without a glimpse of joy.
26                           又如蒲船掠過,                                 They skim past like boats of papyrus,
                               如鷹俯撲獵物.                               like eagles swooping down on their prey.
27                      我若說, '我要忘記悲情,                             If I say, 'I will forget my complaint,
                            改變表情, 面帶微笑.'                           I will change my expression, and smile.'
28                        我仍然害怕我的苦痛,                                   I still dread all my sufferings,
                           因我知你不會視我無辜.                         for I know you will not hold me innocent.
29                       我既然早就被定為有罪,                                Since I am already found guilty,
                           為何我還要作無謂掙扎?                                 why should I struggle in vain?
30                        即使我用肥皂潔淨我身,                              Even if I washed myself with soap
                            同時使用鹼液洗淨我手.                              and my hands with washing soda,
31                        你還是會把我扔入深坑,                            you would plunge me into a slime pit
                            連我的衣服都會憎惡我.                         so that even my clothes would detest me.

32                        衪不像我是人可回答衪;            He is not a man like me that I might answer him,
                            可以大家一起對簿公堂.                 that we might confront each other in court.
33                        只要我們之間有人仲裁,           If only there were someone to attribute between us,
                            他手按在我們雙方身上.                           to lay his hands upon us both,
34                        有人使神的刑杖離開我,                     someone to remove God's rod from me,
                            讓我不再害怕衪的威嚴.                  so that his terror would frighten me no more.
35                        我就可大膽說話不畏衪,                    Then I would speak up without fear of him,
                            但我仍懼怕不敢頂撞衪.                        but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
            3. 神定人罪(10:1-12):
1                           "我非常厭惡我的生命,                                "I loathe my very life;
                              因此我要盡情吐苦情,               therefore I will give free rein to my complaint
                              放聲說出我心中苦楚.                  and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.
2                            我對神說不要譴責我,                     I will say to God: Do not condemn me,
                              但要告訴我指控罪名.                but tell me what charges you have against me.
3                            你向惡人詭計微笑時,                           Does it please you to oppress me,
                              你是否以有人欺壓我                             to spurn the work of your hands,
                              和輕看你手作工為樂?                 while you smile on the schemes of the wicked?
4                            你是否有凡人的肉眼?                               Do you have eyes of flesh?
                              與凡人一樣去看世事?                             Do you see as a mortal sees?
5                            你的日子跟凡人一樣,                        Are your days like those of a mortal
                              你的年歲跟世人無異;                          or your years like those of a man,
6                            你必需找出我的過失                          that you must search out my faults
                              及仔細查察我的罪過;                                  and probe after my sin -
7                            即使你知道我是無罪,                         though you know that I am not guilty
                              無人能從你手中救我?                 and that no one can rescue me from your hand?

8                               你的雙手塑我造我,                     Your hands shaped me and made me.
                                 你現要轉手毀我嗎?                       Will you now turn and destroy me?
9                              記住你是用泥捏造我.                  Remember that you molded me like clay.
                                現要把我變回塵土嗎?                      Will you now turn me to dust again?
10                            你曾把我像牛奶倒出,                         Did you not pour me out like milk
                                又把我像奶酪般凝固,                               and curdle me like cheese,
11                            然後給我披上皮與肉,                              clothe me with skin and flesh
                                再用筋骨連成一體嗎?                 and knit me together with bones and sinews?
12                             你賜我生命仁慈待我;                   You gave me life and showed me kindness,
                                 並眷顧護佑我的心靈.                 and in your providence watched over my spirit.
             4. 不如夭折(10:13-22):
13                            然而你把這些隱藏心中,          But this is what you concealed in your heart,
                                我也知道這是你的旨意.              and I know that this was in your mind.
14                            我若犯罪你定會鑒察我;              If I sinned, you would be watching me
                                而且不會赦免我的過犯.          and would not let my offense go unpunished.
15                              我若是有罪就有禍了!                         If I am guilty - woe to me!
                                  即使無辜也抬不起頭;           Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head,
                                     因為我滿懷羞愧,                                for I am full of shame
                                     淹沒在苦難之中.                           and drowned in my affliction.
16                                  我若是昂首自得,                                If I hold my head high,
                                      你就獵我如獵獅;                               you stalk me like a lion;
                                      再以大能打擊我.            and again display your awesome power against me.
17                                   請新證人指控我,                         You bring new witness against me
                                       增加對我的怒氣,                        and increase your anger toward me;
                                 你的大軍一波一波攻擊我.            your forces come against me wave upon wave,

18                             你為何還要讓我出母胎呢?          Why then did you bring me out of the womb?
                                 我真想被人看見前就夭折.              I wish I had died before any eye saw me.
19                                   我就不會來到世上,                    If only I had never come into being,
                                      直接從母胎進墳墓! or had been carried straight from the womb to the grave!
20                               我很少的日子就此消逝?                   Are not my few days almost over?
                             走開! 讓我進入去而不返之地前,  Turn away from me so I can have a moment's joy
                                      能夠有片刻的歡樂.                     before I go to the place of no return,
21                                      那地幽暗漆黑,                      to the land of gloom and deep shadow,
                                             深夜陰沉,                                 to the land of deepest night,
22                                          蔭暗無序,                                of deep shadow and disorder,
                                       即使有光, 也是漆黑."                  where even the light is like darkness."

     (V) 瑣法答唱(11:1-20):
1 拿瑪人瑣法答唱, 歌曰:
            1. 指責自義(11:2-6):
2                   "這些話都無答案嗎?                      "Are all these words to go unanswered?
                      說話的人可稱義嗎?                              Is this talker to be vindicated?
3                  你的胡言能使人閉口嗎?                   Will your idle talk reduce men to silence?
                    你嘲諷時沒人指責你嗎?                    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?
4                 你對神說, '我的信仰純正,                   You say to God, 'My beliefs are flawless
                         我在你眼前純潔.'                                 and I am pure in your sight.'
5                      啊! 我真想神說話.                          Oh, how I wish that God would speak,
                         祂會開口攻擊你,                           that he would open his lips against you
6                      向你解開智慧奧秘,                        and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,
                        因真智慧都有兩面.                                  for true wisdom has two sides.
                   要知道: 神已忘記你一些罪.           Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.
            2. 神察人罪(11:7-12):
7                     你能測透神的奧秘嗎?                         Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
                       能洞悉全能者極限嗎?                       Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8                         兩者都高過諸天,                               They are higher than the heavens,
                           你能做些甚麼呢?                                           what can you do?
                           兩者都深過陰間,                       They are deeper than the depths of the grave,
                           你能知道甚麼呢?                                          what can you know?
9                       兩者量度都比地還長,                         Their measure is longer than the earth
                                比海更寬.                                            and wider than the sea.
10                       衪若前來把你囚禁,                        If he come along and confines you in prison
                           開庭審你誰敢反對?                       and convenes a court, who can oppose him?
11                      祂當然認得詭詐小人,                            Surely he recongnizes deceiful men;
                          看見罪惡祂怎能不理?                    and when he sees evil, does he not take note?
12                        無知之人欲成智者,                       But a witless man can no more become wise
                            比野驢生人還要難.                       than a wild donkey's colt can be born a man.
              3. 悔改離罪(11:13-20):
13                          你若真心歸向衪,                              Yet if you devote your heart to him
                              又向他伸出雙手;                              and stretch out your hands to him;
14                           你若拋棄手中罪,                       if you put away the sin that is in your hand
                               不容惡居你帳中;                            and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
15                           就可昂首心無愧,                        that you will lift up your face without shame;
                               站穩腳步不懼怕.                               you will stand firm and without fear.
16                           忘記一切苦與難,                                You will surely forget your trouble,
                               苦難消逝如流水.                                recalling it only as waters gone by.
17                            人生光明勝響午,                                Life will be brighter than noonday,
                                黑暗明亮如清晨.                            and darkness will become like morning.
18                            因有盼望人安穩,                           You will be secure, because there is hope;
                                四圍平靖得安息.                  you will look about you and take your rest to safety.
19                            安然躺臥不害怕,                    You will be down, with no one to make you afraid,
                                且有多人來求恩.                                  and many will court your favor.
20                             惡人眼目必昏花,                               But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
                                欲逃無路心慌亂,                                     and escape will elude them;
                                希望落空身氣絕."                              their hope will become a dying gasp."

       (VI) 約伯辯駁(12:1-14:22):
1 約伯答辯, 歌曰:
                1. 自信有智(12:1-12):
2                     你們無疑是凡人,                               "Doubtless you are the people,
                       智慧莫不隨死去!                                and wisdom will die with you!
3                    我的頭腦不輸你們;                            But I have a mind as well as you;
                      也絕對不比你們差.                                   I am not inferior to you.
                      有誰不知道這些事?                          Who does not know all these things?

4                     我求告神得到回應,                    I have become a laughingstock to my friends,
                       竟成為朋友的笑柄,                      though I called upon God and he answered -
                       公義完美也被嘲笑!             a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!
5                    隨和的人不在乎不幸,                      Men at ease have contempt for misfortune
                      一如腳滑倒者的命運.                      as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6                    強盜的帳棚不受干擾,                         The tents of marauders are undisturbed,
                      手拿神像干犯神怒的                           and those who provoke God are secure -
                      反而泰順平穩安無事.                          those who carry their god in their hands.

7                      田野走獸會教導你,                      But as the animals and they will teach you,
                        空中飛鳥會告訴你;                     or the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
8                      問大地也會教訓你,                       or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
                        大海魚亦會明示你.                            or let the fish of the sea inform you.
9                     從這一切蹟像看起來,                             Which of all these does not know
                       誰不知都是神手做的?                        that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10                   他的手掌握生物生命,                        In his hand is the life of every creature
                       同時掌控全人類氣息.                              and the breath of all mankind.
11                     耳尕豈不測驗言語,                                 Does not the ear test words
                         舌頭豈不嚐試食物?                                  as the tongue tastes food?
12                      智慧豈非出自耆老?                         Is not wisdom found among the aged?
                         長壽豈非令人明理?                         Does not long life bring understanding?
              2. 神的智能(12:13-25):
13                       智慧與能力皆屬神,                         To God belong wisdom and power;
                           謀略與睿智也屬衪.                         counsel and understanding are his.
14                       衪拆毀的不能重建,                      What he tears down cannot be rebuilt;
                           衪囚禁的不能釋放.                    the man he imprisons cannot be released.
15                       衪攔阻流水就天旱,                  If he holds back the waters, there is drought;
                           衪放任水流就泛濫.                  if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.
16                       力量與勝利均屬神,                          To him belong strength and victory;
                           騙人與騙子也屬衪.                          both deceived and deceiver are his.
17                        衪帶走剝光的謀士,                          He leads counselors away stripped
                           使愚人擔任審判官.                                 and makes fools of judges.
18                      祂打開君王囚人枷鎖,                     he takes off the shackles put on by kings
                          再用纏腰布捆綁君王.                       and ties a loincloth around their waist.
19                       衪又把祭司剝光帶走,                             He leads priests away stripped
                          更推翻人長久的建制.                         and overthrows men long established.
20                       衪使老成的謀士閉口,                        He silences the lips of trusted advisers
                           也使資深的長老糊塗.                      and takes away the discernment of elders.
21                       祂鄙視世上高官權貴,                                He pours contempt on nobles
                           並且解除強人的武裝.                                    and disarms the mighty.
22                       祂顯示漆黑中的事物,                         He reveals the deep things of darkness
                           並把死蔭帶入光明中.                         and brings deep shadows into the light.
23                       祂強大列國毀滅列國,                      He makes nations great, and destroys them;
                           並壯大列國分散列國.                             leaders of the earth of their reason;
                           使他們流浪無路荒野.                he sends them wandering through a trackless waste.
25                       在漆黑無光之中摸索,                             They grope in darkness with no light;
                           他們如醉漢東倒西歪.                            he makes them stagger like drunkards.
              3. 責友妄證(13:1-12):
1                          "我親眼見過這一切,                              "My eyes have seen all this,
                              親耳聽過而且明白.                      my ears have heard and understood it.
2                            你們知道我也知道;                              Why you know, I also know;
                              我絕對不比你們差.                                  I am not inferior to you.
3                            我想向全能者說話,                         But I desire to speak to the Almighty
                              與神辯論我的案情.                             and to argue my case with God.
4                            而你們撒謊中傷我,                           You, however, smear me with lies;
                              你們全是誤人庸醫!                       you are worthless physicians, all of you!
5                            但願你們全都閉嘴!                         If only you would be altogether silent!
                              就算你們都有智慧.                              For you, that would be wisdom.
6                            現請你們聽我辯解,                                    Hear now my argument;
                              細聽我口中的申訴.                                 listen to the plead of my lips.
7                       你們要代神說邪惡的話嗎?                    Will you speak wickedly on God's behalf?
                             要為祂說詭詐之言嗎?                            will you speak deceitfully for him?
8                           你們都要去偏袒祂嗎?                                Will you show him partiality?
                             你們都要為神爭辯嗎?                             Will you argue the case for God?
9                      祂若檢驗你們, 你們能過關嗎?                 Would it turn out well if he examined you?
                         你們能騙衪像騙世人一樣嗎?            Could you deceive him as you might deceive men?
10                           你們若暗中偏袒衪,                                   He would surely rebuke you
                               祂必定會責備你們.                                If you secretly showed partiality.
11                       祂的榮光不會嚇倒你們嗎?                          Would not his splendor terrify you?
                           祂的可畏不會震懾你們嗎?                       Would not the dread of him fall on you?
12                             你們的格言如灰燼,                             Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
                                 你們的辯詞如泥土.                              your defenses are defenses of clay.
                4. 表白無罪(13:13-19):
13                    "請閉嘴細聽我言,                                "Keep silent and let me speak;
                         該來的就讓它來.                                 then let come to me what may.
14                   你們為何陷我於險境,                           Why do you put myself in jeopardy
                       且奪去我手中的生命?                              and take my life in my hands?
15                 衪雖想殺我, 我仍仰望衪;                    Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;
                     在祂的面前, 我要為己辯.                      I will surely defend my ways to his face.
16                 這的確會轉變成我的拯救,                   Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,
                     因無神的人不敢到祂面前!               for no godless man would dare come before him!
17                        請細聽我說的話,                                   Listen carefuly to my words;
                            耳朵聽進我的言.                                let your ears take in what I say.
18                       現我已備好我訴狀,                             Now that I have prepared my case,
                           我知道我必得平反.                                   I know I will be vindicated.
19                       還有誰能再控告我?                           Can anyone bring charges against me?
                   若有, 我就閉口不言, 視死而歸.                            If so, I will be silent and die.
               5. 直質問神(13:20-28):
20                    "神啊! 只要准我兩請求,                  "Only grant me these two things, O God,
                          我就不再躲避你的面:                         and then I will not hide from you:
21                      請挪開你手遠離我身;                          Withdraw your hand far from me,
                          勿以恐怖手段恐嚇我.                    and stop frightening me with your terrors.
22                      再傳喚我好讓我申訴;                         Then summon me and I will answer,
                          或者讓我說話你回答.                              or let me speak, and you reply.
23                      我犯了多少過錯罪惡?                   how many wrongs and sins have I committed?
                          請明示我的過犯罪孽,                             Show me my offense and my sin.
24                        你為甚麼對我掩面,                                   Why do you hide your face
                            把我當作你的敵人?                                and consider me your enemy?
25                       你會折磨風吹落葉嗎?                          Will you torment a windblown leaf?
                           你會追逐枯乾糠秕嗎?                             Will you chase after dry chaff?
26                       因你寫下罪狀控訴我,                   For you write down bitter things against me
                           讓我承擔幼年犯罪惡.                    and make me inherit the sins of my youth.
27                       你上緊我腳上的腳鐐,                             You fasten my feet in shackles;
                           在我的腳掌上作記號,                        you keep close watch on all my paths
                           密切注意我所有行徑,                      by putting marks on the soles of my feet.
28                         故世人消逝如腐物,                      So man wastes away like something rotten,
                             如蛀蟲蛀蝕的衣裳. l                               ike a garment eaten by moths."
                 6. 人生短暫(14:1-22):
1                            人都是婦人所生,                                  "Man born of woman
                              日子少少患難多.                         is of few days and full of trouble.
2                            綻放如花瞬凋萎,                 He springs up like a flower and withers away;
                              如影飛逝不長久.                   like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
3                      你有沒有注視到這樣的人?                  Do you fix your eyes on such a one?
                        你會帶他到你面前受審嗎?            Will you bring him before you for judgment?
4                      誰能從污穢中帶出純淨的?            Who can bring what is pure from the impure?
                                 一個也沒有!                                                No one!
5                            人的日子早有定數,                            Man's days are determined;
                              他的月數由你決定,                you have decreed the number of the months
                              設定極限不得超越.                      and have set limits he cannot exceed.
6                             請轉眼不看由他去,                  So look away from him and let him alone,
                              至他像雇工耗時日.                  till he has put in his time like a hired man.

7                           樹木至少有下列希望:                       At least there is hope for a tree:
                                 樹若砍下仍再生,                      If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
                                 新枝生長不停息.                           and its new shoots will not fail.
8                               根雖地中衰老去,                      its roots may grow old in the ground
                                 幹亦土裏枯乾死;                             and its stump die in the soil;
9                               一旦水潤就萌芽,                        yet at the scent of water it will bud
                                 伸展枝條如植物.                           and put forth shoots like a plant.
10                              而人死後倒地下,                              But man dies and is laid low;
                                  最後氣絕歸無有.                         he breathes his last and is no more.
11                              一如水從大海消,                           As water disappears from the sea
                                  又若河床枯乾竭;                       or a riverbed becomes parched and dry,
12                              人一躺下不再起,                          so man lies down and does not rise;
                                  直至諸天全消失,               till the heavens are no more, men will not awake
                                  沉睡終日喚不醒.                               or he roused from their sleep.

13                              但願你把我藏陰間,                    If only you would hide me in the grave
                                  隱藏直至你怒氣消!                 and conceal me till your anger has passed!
                                  也願你為我定時限,                          if only you would set me a time
                                  永遠記念我毋相忘!                               and then remember me!
14                              人若死了還能活嗎?                         If a man dies, will he live again?
                                  在我所有勞苦日子,                          All the days of my hard service
                                  等待重獲新生到來.                        I will wait for my renewal to come.
15                              你一呼喚我就回應;                        You will call and I will answer you;
                                  你必渴念你親手造,           you will long for the creature your hands have made.
16                               定必點數我的腳步,                      Surely then you will count my steps
                                  不再追究我的罪過.                            but not keep track for my sin.
17                               把我過犯密封袋中,                     My offenses will be sealed up in a bag;
                                   盡力遮蓋我的罪惡.                               you will cover over my sin.

18-19                          然而你毀滅人希望,                 But as a mountain erodes and crumbles
                                   像座大山腐融崩裂,                    and as rock is moved from its place,
                                   又如岩石移開原位.                          as water wears away stones
                                   也若流水磨穿頑石,                      and torrents wash away the soil,
                                   更像洪流沖刷泥沙.                          so you destroy man's hope.
20                                你永遠勝他他消逝;           You overpower him once for all, and he is gone;
                                    改他容顏把他攆走.          you change the countenance and send him away.
21                                子孫受尊崇他不知;              If his sons are honored, he does not know it;
                                    後裔受貶抑他不見.                if they are brought low, he does not see it.
22                                他只感受己身痛苦,                     He feels but the pain of his own body
                                    只能為己傷心哀痛.                            and mourns only for himself."

                                       約伯記新譯

                                            前 言

        約伯記乃聖經中一部很奇特的書, 是舊約聖經詩歌智慧書的第一卷, 也是全部聖經中古老書卷
之一. 約伯(Job)這個名字的含義是 "受壓迫憎恨," 因他 "完全正直, 敬畏神, 遠離惡事."(1:1), 所以他
遭受撒但的痛恨和逼迫, 看來不可思議, 事實上, 神的美意許可敬虔的人受撒但的攻擊, 目的是要使
他得到更深的造就; 他在受苦和堅忍方面的紀錄, 對他的名字含義是最好的註釋. 許多事, 我們一時
不明白, 也沒有答案, 但我們深信萬事都互相效力, 只要愛神, 一定能得到益處(羅8:28).
        前在加州教會曾試讀本書, 只覺艱澀難懂, 讀不下去; 後找國際版中英對照聖經, 英文本反而易讀
易懂. 近較閒暇, 再細讀本書, 發現中文和合本之所以艱澀難懂, 主要在其譯文很多含糊不清, 其用字
措辭, 大有商榷餘地, 尤其文中艱澀字眼, 西式語氣, 錯誤譯文, 實應加修正潤飾, 以臻信達雅之美境,
使中譯經文, 更加美善流暢, 通順可讀, 以廣流傳, 宏揚主道, 福被萬民.
        現仍本詩篇新譯精神, 祈求聖靈開悟帶領, 對中文譯文大膽加以潤飾修正, 詩歌部份採中英對照
方式, 力求簡明, 通順可讀, 對稱工整, 易讀易懂, 以激蕩靈命, 深入人心, 多結果子, 榮耀主名.
        本文引用經文章節, 除特別註明外, 均出自 "約伯記."

                            第一章 緒論(1:1-2:13)

      約伯是烏斯地人(1:1), 該地位於約但河東, 南鄰以東, 北接亞蘭, 東臨迦勒底人之地, 也是神應許
賜給亞伯拉罕子孫迦南地之東.
      約伯記大部份記述約伯與安慰他的三友間對話, 但約伯本人不是作者, 惟可確定他是以色列人,
因他用以色列人慣用稱呼立約之神的名 "耶和華," 三友則否. 他當時可能是族中的一位祭司, 向神
獻祭, 為人贖罪, 這在神賜律法之後, 就由亞倫的後裔來執行; 律法時代之前, 他獻的燔祭就是挪亞
在洪水後所獻燔祭, 和亞伯拉罕所獻燔祭(創8:20, 22:13, 31:54). 在他們對話當中沒有提到出埃及時
的神蹟與律法. 由此推算, 約伯高壽, 可能有二百多歲, 這樣的高齡, 只在列祖時期才會有, 而且他有
大群的牛羊駝驢和僕婢, 這也是列祖時期才有的情形. 約伯既非作者, 依據最古的傳統認為摩西是
此書的執筆者, 猶太人和早期基督教學者咸認同此說. 約伯記充滿活力的希伯來詩歌體裁, 顯示本書
是用希伯來語, 即摩西的母語寫成, 而非從另一種文字, 如阿拉伯語, 翻譯過來的; 此外, 其文章風格
跟摩西五經十分相近, 且相似程度遠超其他經書; 所以其執筆者應當像摩西, 是個以色列人, 因神的
聖言交託給猶太人.
      復查摩西長大後曾在米甸住過40年, 該處離烏斯不遠, 他可以在當地就近搜集到許多詳盡資料,
編入約伯記中. 因此, 後來他帶領以色列人在曠野流浪40年, 經過約伯的家鄉時, 他有機會知悉約伯
結局, 從而完成約伯記的最後部分.
      撒但攻擊約伯的目的是要約伯因遭受患難而棄絕神, 但約伯雖然遭受嚴重打擊和折磨, 加上他
妻子的催逼, 仍然堅守信仰, 沒有棄絕神, 並明確表示 "祂雖殺我, 我仍信祂."(13:15). 但是在約伯學習
功課過程中, 也有他失敗之處, 當三友來為他悲傷, 想給他安慰時, 他卻可憐自己, 並且覺得自己受苦
冤枉, 因此厭世咒詛自己. 當三友堅持約伯是一偽善者, 受苦乃因隱藏的罪, 需要悔改; 他卻極力爭辯,
堅認自己無罪, 並且自義, 還以為神不公, 無故苦待他. 事實上, 神放縱撒但苦待約伯, 自有其美意:
       1. 神要使祂的聖民得著祂自己作生命.
       2. 神剝奪聖民產業, 是要使他們能完滿承受祂.
       3. 神藉災禍患難, 為祂的得勝者成就重大的榮耀.
       4. 神藉萬有, 將愛祂的人帶到祂自己的榮耀裏.
      約伯記本是舊約聖經深奧難懂的一卷書, 前於加州中華歸主海沃教會時, 曾數度誦讀, 一探究竟,
只覺文字艱澀, 莫不半途而廢, 自嘆靈命淺薄, 引以為憾. 此次細讀, 發現英文易懂, 中譯難明, 和合本
譯文多欠通順, 謬誤不少, 惟再翻閱聖經最近新譯本, 更過之無不及, 讀得滿頭露水, 益發迷茫. 返台
安養, 蒙神保守, 平安喜樂, 閒來無事, 讀經至樂, 並續作文字服事, 完成詩篇、箴言、雅歌及傳道書
新譯後, 繼續禱告祈求, 聖靈帶領, 賜我悟性, 著手本書新譯, 完成後, 於本佈樂格冒昧披露, 大家分享,
祈我主內屬靈先進, 比較和合本經文, 賜教斧正, 使經文不失真義, 更通俗流暢, 全民可讀, 榮神益人.
  I. 約伯有福(1:1-5):
     在烏斯有一人, 名叫約伯; 那人完美無瑕, 為人正直, 敬畏神, 遠離惡事. 他生了七子三女, 家產
豐盈, 計有: 羊七千, 駱駝三千, 公牛五百, 母驢五百, 且僕婢成群, 在東方人中堪稱至大.
     其子按日輪流在家, 大擺筵席宴客, 同時, 也邀請三姐妹, 一同坐席享用. 宴客之期一過, 約伯就
派人去叫他們自潔, 他清晨起來為他們每個人獻燔祭, 心想, "恐怕我的兒女犯罪, 心中咒詛神." 這是
約伯例行習慣.
 II. 約伯考驗(1:6-2:13):
      (I) 撒但首次指控:
           1.  挑撥神人(1:6-12):                    
                 有一天, 天使前來侍立耶和華面前, 撒但也隨之而來; 耶和華與撒但對話如次:                     
                 耶和華:  "你從那裏來?"                    
                 撒   但:  "我遨遊大地, 四處走動."                    
                 耶和華: "你有沒有察看我的僕人約伯? 地上沒有人像他一樣, 完美無瑕, 為人正直,                                                                                                   敬畏神, 遠離惡事?"              
                 撒    但  :"約伯難道是無緣無故敬畏神嗎? 你不是在他四圍樹立籬笆, 保護                    
                                他的家和他所有的一切嗎? 他手所作的都蒙你賜福, 他的牛羊成群,             
                                滿山遍野; 你若伸手擊滅他所有的一切, 他必定當面咒罵你."            
                 耶和華:  "好吧! 我把他所有的都交在你手中, 但你不可傷害他."                    
                 於是撒但從耶和華面前退出.                  
            2. 堅定信神(1:13-22):
                (1) 橫禍連連(1:13-19):
                      一天, 約伯的兒女正在大哥家宴樂飲酒時, 有人來向約伯報信說:
                     "牛正耕田, 驢在旁吃草之際, 示巴人突然來襲, 搶走牛驢, 僕死刀下,
                       只我一人脫逃, 特來報信."
                       話沒說完, 又有人來說:
                     "神的火從天降下, 把羊群和眾僕都燒光, 只我一人脫逃, 特來報信."
                       話還沒說完, 又有人來說:
                     "迦勒底人分三隊突襲駱駝, 全都搶走, 僕死刀下, 只我一人脫逃, 特來報信."
                       接著, 話沒說完, 又有人來說:
                      "你的兒女正在大哥家宴樂飲酒時, 突然有陣狂風從曠野颳起, 猛襲房屋四角,
                        以致倒塌, 把屋內的人全都壓死, 只我一人脫逃, 特來報信."
                 (2) 忍痛應變(1:20-22):
                        約伯聞報色變, 立即起來, 撕裂外袍, 剃頭削髮, 俯伏在地敬拜, 仰天長嘆:
                                       新 譯                                                                  英 文
                                "我赤身出母胎,                            "Naked I came from my mother's womb,
                                  也必赤身離世.                                            and naked I will depart.
                                 賞賜的是耶和華,                                                    The Lord gave
                                 收回也是耶和華.                                       and the Lord has taken away,
                              耶和華的名應當讚美."                            may the name of the Lord be praised."
                          遭逢巨變, 約伯含悲忍痛, 不以惡行表不滿, 也不怪罪耶和華.
    (II) 撒但二次指控:
            1. 再次挑撥(2:1-6):
                又有一天, 天使前來侍立耶和華面前, 撒但也隨之而來; 耶和華與撒但對話如次:
                耶和華: "你從那裏來?"
                撒  但: "我遨遊大地, 四處走動."
                耶和華: "你有沒有察看我的僕人約伯? 地上沒有人像他一樣, 完美無瑕, 為人正直,
                             敬畏神, 遠離惡事. 你雖挑撥我打擊他, 無緣無故毀滅他, 他還是保持他的
                             純正品格."
                撒  但: "人以皮還皮, 都願付出他的一切去保全生命, 你若伸手擊打他的骨和肉,
                            他必定當面咒罵你."
                耶和華: "好吧! 我把他交在你手中, 但你要保住他的性命."
            2. 身受苦難(2:7-10):
                於是, 撒但從耶和華面前退出; 立即毒害約伯, 使他從腳掌到頭頂, 長滿毒瘡. 約伯
痛苦難忍, 坐在爐灰中, 拿起瓦片, 刮身上毒瘡.
                其妻見狀, 心痛萬分, 對他說: "難道你還要死守你的純正品格嗎? 還不咒罵神, 去死吧!"
                可是約伯對她說, "妳說話像愚婦, 難道我們只能從神那裏得福, 而不能得禍嗎?"
                在這些不幸事上, 約伯雖慘遭橫逆, 仍不以言語犯罪.
   (III) 三友來訪(2:11-13):
            約伯有三位好友, 提縵人以利法、書亞人比勒達和拿瑪人瑣法; 他們一聽到這些災禍不幸
降在約伯身上, 非常同情, 就相約從自家出發, 同來安慰他; 他們從遠處看他, 幾乎認不出他來, 不禁
同聲大哭, 各自撕裂外袍, 頭上撤灰, 與他同坐地上七天七夜, 沒有人向他說一句話, 因他們看出來
他非常痛苦.       

2

                                            荒漠甘泉經文新譯(12)
                                         (Streams in the Desert)

Dec 1   經文: 來4:9直譯
            新譯: 原譯甚佳
            原譯: 這樣看來, 必另有一安息日的安息, 為神的子民存留.
            英文: There remains, then, a sabbath-rest for the people of God;
            附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

 2   經文: 約20:9-10
      新譯: 原譯甚佳
      原譯: 因為他們還不明聖經的意思, 就是耶穌必要從死裏復活.
                於是兩個門徒回自己的住處去了.
      英文: (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the death.)
                Then the disciples went back to their house.
      附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

  3   經文: 加2:20直譯
       新譯: 原譯極佳
       原譯: 我已經與基督同釘十字架, 現在活著的不再是我, 乃是基督在我裏面活著;
                 並且我如今在肉身活著, 是因信神的兒子而活, 他是愛我為我捨己.
       直譯: ...是因神兒子的信而活,...
       英文: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
                 The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
                 nd gave himself for me.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

 4   經文: 太14:23與10.26相同
      新譯: 解散眾人後, 他獨自上山禱告. 傍晚時份, 只他一人在那裏.
      原譯: 散了眾人以後, 他就獨自上山去禱告. 到了晚上, 只有他一人在那裏.
      英文: After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.
                When eveening came, he was there alone.
      附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

 5   經文: 耶10:23
      新譯: 耶和華啊!
                我知道人的生命不屬己;
                如人不能定自己的腳步.
      原譯: 耶和華啊, 我曉得人的道路不由自己;
                行路的人也不能定自己的腳.
      英文: I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own;
                it is not for man to direct his steps.

      經文: 詩27:11
                                   新譯                                                                       原譯
                耶和華啊! 求你把你的道路教我,                      耶和華啊, 求你將你的道路指教我.
                因我仇敵, 引導我行走平坦的路.                                   因我仇敵的緣故
                                                                          英文                    引導我走平坦的路.
                                                        Teach me your way, O Lord;
                                                          lead me in a straight path
                                                          because of my oppressors.
               附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

  6   經文: 啓3:11
       新譯: 我必快來, 你要守住你所有的, 這樣, 無人能奪去你的冠冕.
       原譯: 我必快來, 你要持守你所有的, 免得人奪去你的冠冕.
       英文: I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have,
                 so that no one will take your crown.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

7   經文: 王下3:17
      新譯: 原譯甚佳
      原譯: 因為耶和華如此說:
                你們雖不見風, 不見雨, 這谷必滿了水, 使你們和牲畜有水喝.
      英文: For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind or rain,
                yet this valley will be filled with water,
                and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.
      附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

 8   經文: 西3:12
      新譯: 原譯甚佳
      原譯: 所以, 你們既是神的選民、聖潔蒙愛的人,
                就要存(穿上)憐憫、恩慈、謙虛、溫柔、忍耐的心.
      英文: Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
                Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
                gentleness and patience.
     附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

 9   經文: 路9:23
      新譯: 原譯甚佳
      原譯: 耶穌又對眾人說: "若有人要跟從我, 就當捨己,
                天天背起他的十字架來跟從我.
      英文: Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me,
                he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
      附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

10   經文: 林後1:6-7
       新譯: 原譯甚佳
       原譯: 我們受患難呢, 是為叫你們得安慰、得拯救; 我們得安慰呢, 也是為叫你們得安慰;
                 這安慰能叫你們忍受我們所受的那樣苦楚. 我們為你們所存的盼望是確定的,
                 因為知道你們既是同受苦楚, 也必同得安慰.
       英文: If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is
                 for your comfort, which produces in your patient endurance of the same sufferings
                 we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as your share
                 in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

11   經文: 詩134:1-3
                              新譯                                                               原譯
                     所有在耶和華殿中                                             耶和華的僕人,
                       夜閒服侍約主僕,                                       夜閒站在耶和華殿中的,
                                                                 …
                    願創造天地的耶和華,                                         願造天地的耶和華,
                     從錫安賜福給你們!                  英文                   從錫安賜福給你們.
                                   Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
                                 who minister by night in the house of the Lord.
                                                                   …
                                   May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth,
                                                      bless you from Zion.
                     附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

12   經文: 提後4:6-7
       新譯: 原譯極佳
       原譯: 我現在被澆奠, 我離世的時候到了. 那美好的仗我已經打過了,
                 當跑的路我已經跑盡了, 所信的道我已經守住了.
       英文: For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my
                 departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finish the race, I have kept the faith.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

13   經文: 約壹4:18
       新譯: 愛沒有懼怕, 完美的愛可驅除懼怕, 因懼怕與刑罰有關,
                 懼怕的人得不到完美的愛.
       原譯: 愛裏沒有懼怕, 愛既完全, 就把懼怕除去, 因為懼怕裏含著刑罰,
                 懼怕的人在愛裏未得完全.
       英文: There is no fear in love. But perfact love drives out fear, because fear
                 has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

14   經文: 路11:1-2
       新譯: 原譯甚佳
       原譯: 有個門徒對他說: 求主教導我們禱告...耶穌說; 你們禱告的時候,
                 要說: …願你的國降臨.
       英文:  one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray,…
                  He said to them, "When you pray, say: …your kingdom come…"
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

15  經文: 啓2:4
      新譯: 原譯甚佳
      原譯: 然而, 有一舛件事我責備你, 就是你把起初的愛心離棄了.
      英文: Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
      附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

16   經文: 路2:36-37
       新譯: 原譯甚佳
       原譯: 有女先知名叫亞拿...並不離開聖殿, 禁食祈求, 晝夜事奉神.
       英文: There was also a prophetess, Anna,…She never left the temple
                 but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying…
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

17   經文: 帖前5:23-24
       新譯: 願賜平安的神親自使你們徹底成聖. 又願你們的靈魂體, 在我主耶穌基督降臨時,
                 保持完美. 那召你們的信實可靠, 必成這事.
       原譯: 願賜平安的神親自使你們全然成聖. 又願你們的靈與魂與身子得蒙保守, 在我
                 主耶穌基督降臨的時候, 完全無可指摘. 那召你們的本是信實的, 他必成就這事.
       英文: May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole
                 spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one
                 who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

18   經文: 羅8:37
       新譯: 原譯甚佳
       原譯: 然而, 靠著愛我們的主, 在這一切事上已經得勝有餘了.
       英文: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

19   經文: 路21:13
       新譯: 但這些事終必為你們對他們的見證.
       原譯: 但這些事終必為你們的見證.
       英文: This will result in your being witness to them.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

20   經文: 約16:32
       新譯: 但時候到了, 且已經來了, 你們將要分散, 各歸各家, 留下我獨自一人,
                 然而, 我不是獨自一人, 因有父與我同在.
       原譯: 看哪, 時候將到, 且是已經到了, 你們要分散, 各歸自己的地方去,
                 留下我獨自一人, 其實我不是獨自一人, 因為有父與我同在.
   英文: But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home.
             You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

21   經文: 申1:36
       新譯: 原譯甚佳
       原譯: 惟有耶孚尼的兒子迦勒必得看見, 並且我要將他所踏過的地賜給他
                  和他的子孫, 因為他專心跟從我.
       英文: except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him
                  and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed
                  the Lord wholeheartedly.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

22   經文: 士6:13
       新譯: 原譯甚佳
       原譯: 基甸說: "主啊, 耶和華若與我們同在, 我們何至遭遇這一切事呢?
                 我們的列祖不是向我們說, 耶和華領我們從埃及上來嗎? 他那樣
                 奇妙的作為在哪裏呢? 現在他卻丟棄我們, 將我們交在米甸人手裏."
       英文: "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?
                 Where are all his womders that our fathers told us about when they said, ' Did not
                 the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us
                 into the hand of Midian."
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

23   經文: 腓2:3
       新譯: 原譯甚佳
       原譯: 凡事不可結黨, 不可貪圖虛浮的榮耀, 只要存心謙卑,
                  各人看別人比自己強.
       英文: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
                  but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

24   經文: 創24:63
       新譯: 一天傍晚, 以撒出來在田野默想, 舉目一看, 見駱駝隊迎面而來.
       原譯: 天將晚, 以撒出來在田間默想, 舉目一看, 見來了些駱駝.
       英文: He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up,
                  he saw camels approaching .
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

                                                       聖善夜, 平安夜;
                                                    聖誕快樂, 主佑平安.
                                                       感謝主, 讚美主,
                                                      一切榮耀歸我主,
                                                       哈利路亞, 阿們!

25   經文: 徒5:41
       新譯: 使徒離開公會, 滿心歡喜, 因算是配為這名受羞辱.
       原譯: 他們離開公會, 心裏歡喜, 因被算是配為這名受辱.
       英文: The apostles let the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted
                  worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

                                                    聖誕喜樂 牛年蒙福
                                                MERRY CHRISTMAS
                                                             AND
                                        A HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
                                                    主佑平安 福杯滿溢

26   經文: 約7:17
       新譯: 人若立志遵行衪的旨意, 就必知曉這教訓是出於神, 或憑自己口說.
       原譯: 人若立志遵著他的旨意行, 就必曉得這教訓或是出於神,
                 或是我憑自己說的.
       英文: If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out
                 whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

27   經文: 詩105:18直譯
       新譯: 他們用腳鐐傷他的腳,
                 更用鐵鍊鎖住他的頸.
       原譯: 人用腳鐐傷他的腳,
                 他被鐵鍊捆拘.
       直譯: 他的魂被鐵捆拘.
       英文: They bruised his feet with shackles,
                 his neck was put in irons.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

28   經文: 太17:8
       新譯: 他們舉目, 不見一人, 只見耶穌.
       原譯: 他們舉目不見一人, 只見耶穌在那裏.
       英文: When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

29   經文: 來10:36
       新譯: 你們必須忍耐, 當你們遵行神的旨意後, 就可得到衪的應許.
       原譯: 你們必須忍耐, 使你們行完了神的旨意, 就可以得到所應許的.
       英文: You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God,
                  you will receive what he has promised.
      附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

30   經文: 徒12:5
       新譯: 原譯甚佳
       原譯: 於是彼得被囚在監裏; 教會卻為他切切地禱告神.
       英文: So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly
                 praying to God for him.
       附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

31   經文: 撒上7:12
       新譯: 原譯甚佳
       原譯: 撒母耳將一塊石立在米斯巴和善的中間, 給石頭起名叫以便以謝,
                 說: "到如今耶和華都幫助我們."
      英文: Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen.
                 He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the Lord helped us."
      附記: 請同時閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大.

                                                              (十二月完)

                                                            感謝主, 讚美主,
                                                           一切榮耀歸我主,
                                                            哈利路亞, 阿們!

                                             2020年12月31日 佈樂格 於台北

     後記:
           我們終於在2020年, 逐日把 "荒漠甘泉" 中譯本查完, 附記不斷提醒 "請同時
     閱讀本書釋經靈意, 獲益更大." 因其中作者美國傳道人考門夫人教導人如何通過
     查考聖經, 聆聽神的話語, 去明白神的旨意; 此外, 她還引用很多傳道人和屬靈先輩
     對經句的闡釋, 激盪靈命; 尤其教人如何在苦難中, 藉禱告來得到盼望、忍耐與喜樂,
     實係一不可多得的靈修寶典.
           一年過去, 新的一年何妨再逐日查考一次, 溫故知新, 在奔走天路歷程上, 多了一盞
     屬靈明燈, 導引前路, 親近主, 順服主, "忘記背後, 努力面前的, 向著標竿直跑."(腓3:13-14),
     願共勉.

         聖經經典人物故事
                     目錄

第一回 亞伯拉罕信心父(I) I -XIV
          亞伯拉罕信心父(II) XV-XXI
第二回 雅各奸詐神造就(I) )-VII
          雅各奸詐神造就(II) VIII-XIV
          附記: 雅各靈訓
第三回 泉旁多果的約瑟(I) I-V
          泉旁多果的約瑟(II) VI-X
第四回 摩西領民出埃及(I) I-V
          摩西領民出埃及(II) VI-VIII
          摩西領民出埃及(III) IX-XI
          摩西領民出埃及(IV) XII-XV
          摩西領民出埃及(V) XVI-XIX
第五回 約書亞繼承摩西(I) I-V
          約書亞繼承摩西(II) VI-VII
          約書亞繼承摩西(III) VII-XIII
第六回 士師時代英雄榜(I) I-V
          士師時代英雄榜(II) VI-VIII
第七回 外邦奇女賢路得 I-XI
第八回 先知士師撒母耳 I-IX
第九回 討神喜悅的大衛(I)
          第一節 I-II
          第二節 I-III
          討神喜悅的大衛(II)
          第三節 I-VI
          討神喜悅的大衛(III)
          第四節 I-II
          討神喜悅的大衛(IV)
          第四節 III-IV
          討神喜悅的大衛(V)
          第五節 I-III
          第六節 I-X
          第七節 總結
第十回 智慧明君所羅門 I-IX
第十一回 大衛王朝南北分(I)
             第一階 I-X
             第二階 I-V
             大衛王朝南北分(II)
             第三階 I-XVIII
             大衛王朝南北分(III)
             第四階 I-VIII
第十二回 猶大救星以斯帖 I=XIII
第十三回 以斯拉回歸革新 I-II
第十四回 尼希米重建聖城
             第一部 首任記事(1:1-12:47) I-XI
             第二部 二任記事(13:1-31) I-III
第十五回 彼得勇建神教會(I) 壹-參
             彼得勇建神教會(II) 肆-陸
             彼得勇建神教會(III) 柒-拾
第十六回 保羅福音傳外邦(I) 壹-肆
             保羅福音傳外邦(II) 伍-捌
             保羅福音傳外邦(III) 玖-拾
             保羅福音傳外邦(IV) 拾壹-拾貳
第十七回 司提反壯烈殉道 壹-參
第十八回 腓利道傳非大監 壹-參

                                             聖經經典人物故事
                                       第十八回  腓利道傳非大監

壹. 前言:
      I. 教會受逼(徒8:1-3):
         司提反見證真主, 傳揚福音, 結果被信仰偏差的猶太人羅織罪名, 誣告受審, 最後, 被暴民
拖出城外, 亂石打死, 慘絕人寰, 就在司提反從容殉道同一天, 發生了影響初期教會發展重大事件.
主耶穌復活升天前, 曾當面吩咐門徒, 留在耶路撒冷靜候, 以便得著上面來的能力, "並要
在耶路撒冷, 猶太全地和撒瑪利亞, 直到地極, 作我的見證."(徒1:8), 門徒恪遵主的囑咐, 留在耶路
撒冷作見證. 五旬節聖靈果如應許降臨, 教會美好誕生, 在主的祝福保守下, 蓬勃成長, 異常興旺,
直到司提反殉道, 教會受到空前無情的逼害, 才越過耶路撒冷, 開始向猶太全地和撒瑪利亞發展,
這真是個突破性的開展. 在人看來, 這次向外開展, 應是教會歡歡喜喜差遣外宣隊去傳福音, 為主
作見證, 但聖經記載, 並非如此, 而是由一個愛主的弟兄, 在司提反被石打慘死後展開. "從這日起"
(徒8:1), 即司提反被石打死的那一天起, 那群反叛神的猶太暴民, 隨即從城外回到城裏, 毫不留情,
嚴厲逼害, 打擊誕生不久的耶路撒冷教會, 整個教會都受到嚴重波及. 尤其, 禍不單行, 逼害一開始,
教會就遇到一個可怕新敵人掃羅, 他就在那一天, 對神的兒女狠下毒手, 全心竭力搜捕門徒, 殘害
教會, 成為逼害教會集團的鷹犬頭目.

      II. 福音外展(徒8:4-5):
           歷史告訴我們, 福音就是在殘酷逼害下突破的. 真的, 感謝神, 這次空前大逼害, 使福音在
地理上有新突破, 傳得更廣更遠, 逼害好像一陣狂風, 把福音種子吹散到更遼闊廣袤的田野, 遍地
開花結果.
           想不到這教會最凶狠可怕的仇敵掃羅, 終被福音打倒, 而打倒他的不是別人, 正是他反對
最烈的福音之主, 主耶穌慈愛憐憫, 不但把他打倒, 而且造就他, 使他脫胎換骨, 完全改變, 成為一
傳福音的急先鋒, 名垂千古的大使徒保羅, 這都是神的恩典, 神的大能, 感謝神.
           使徒行傳沒有講到福音傳到猶太地的事, 但是集中篇幅, 記述福音在撒瑪利亞種族上、
文化上、宗教上的突破, 原因是路加認為猶太地是猶太人地方, 福音廣傳, 理所當然, 不必費神,
多所贅述; 而撒瑪利亞在種族上、文化上、宗教上, 與猶太地都截然不同, 所以路加特把福音在
撒瑪利亞的突破, 多所著墨, 詳加記載. 此外, 他還記述了一段福音傳給埃提亞伯太監經過, 這些
都是神興起執事腓利的重大事工, 其宣道旅程詳附圖一.

      III. 興起腓利(徒8:6-8):
             福音突破的開路先鋒就是腓利, 他跟司提反都是說希利尼話猶太人, 他的事工在聖經中
著墨不多, 僅使徒行傳記載他的事蹟. 他和司提反一樣, 都是教會第一次嚴格選出來七位執事之一,
路加特別指出, 死了一個神的忠僕, 神馬上興起另外一個完全相同的器皿來接替, 這二人的事工
和傳道方式, 幾乎完全一樣. 司提反宣揚基督, 且行神蹟奇事, 使信徒日增, 教會興旺, 震驚了猶太
當局, 更不幸的是, 他為真道爭辯, 激怒很多信仰偏差頑梗的猶太人, 結果被暴民亂石打死, 殉道
收場. 神不坐視, 立即興起另一個一模一樣的忠僕, 就是腓利, 他的作為, 幾乎跟司提反所作, 不分
軒輊, 那就是傳神真道, 充滿聖靈, 大有能力, 很容易使人感動, 悔改歸主. 唯一不同的是, 司提反
傳道處死, 壯烈殉道; 腓利則幸運沒有死, 一直為主做工, 傳揚主道, 到年老歸天為止. 二人的命運
結局, 迥然不同, 誰比較幸運? 其實從神的安排看來, 不必比較, 最重要的是要順從神的旨意, 神要
我們怎樣死, 我們就全然順從神怎樣死. 主若要我們為他殉道, 我們就甘心樂意, 從容就義, 榮耀主;
主若要我們安享天年, 再接回天家, 就要更加殷勤奮發, 為主傳福音, 作見證, 作忠僕. 千祈勿渾渾
噩噩, 糊塗死! 只要死得有目的, 有價值, 有意義, 方能討主喜悅, 不枉此生.

貳. 撒瑪利亞綻奇葩(徒8:4-25)
      I. 突進異域(徒8:4-8):
          司提反殉道慘死, 教會遭受無情逼害, 掃羅瘋狂搜捕門徒, 逼使門徒離開耶路撒冷, 四散
避難. 就在這危急時刻, "腓利下撒瑪利亞城去, 宣講基督."(徒8:5), 他突進異域, 闖入一塊福音難傳
的荒地, 他的突破是前所未有大事. 在猶太人歷史上, 猶太人與撒瑪利亞人之間的關係, 非常不好,
水火不容, 這二個民族, 從來沒有心靈上的突破, 而且彼此仇視, 不相往來, 一直至主耶穌來了, 才
漸有轉機. 依聖經記臷, 主耶穌時代, 門徒對撒瑪利亞人, 仍有種族歧視, 主耶穌曾在敘加雅各井邊
向一個撒瑪利亞婦人傳道, 即使她聲名狼藉, 道德敗壞, 連她的族人都看不起她, 主還是願意親近
這婦人, 但這婦人有眼不識泰山, 對主耶穌不尊敬, 心中暗忖, 這猶太人怎麼會跟她一個撒瑪利亞
婦人搭訕? 後來這個婦人悟道, 才知道眼前這人就是世人長久盼望的彌賽亞! 於是立即認罪悔改,
趕忙把福音傳遍全城(約4:5-30).
           又一次, 主耶穌被接上升的日子將近, 祂定意要上耶路撒冷去, 途經撒瑪利亞, 當地的人
見來的是猶太人, 竟不接待他們, 使徒大怒, 尤其半尼其雅各和約翰二兄弟, 更是光火, 氣沖沖向主.
要求 "主啊! 你要我們吩咐火從天上降下來, 燒滅他們, 像以利亞作的好嗎?" 主一聽之下, 立即嚴詞
拒絕, 並痛加斥責. 這二個主的愛徒反應, 把猶太人根深柢固的民族優越感, 和仇視撒瑪利亞人的
心態表露無遺(路9:51-56).
            了解以上所述的歷史背景, 可知要把福音傳入撒瑪利亞, 著實困難不易, 所以腓利這次的
進軍撒瑪利亞, 堪稱空前大突破. 腓利這個具有深厚民族優越感的猶太人, 竟能放下身段, 願意到
心中鄙視的撒瑪利亞人地區傳福音, 他能擺脫心中的成見, 深入異域, 傳主真道, 真不簡單. 更奇妙
的是撒瑪利亞人能捐棄前嫌, 接受一個素眛生平, 新來的猶太人所傳耶穌基督, 得傳之後, 更能跟
這位信耶穌的猶太人結合在一起, 彼此相愛, 融洽親密, 主裏合一. 這真是以前從來沒有發生過的
大奇事, 也是人類社會上難得一見的民族融合. 這美妙的融合, 不但展現在腓利與撒瑪利亞人之間;
也同時展現在二個教會之間, 當耶路撒冷教會欣悉腓利在撒瑪利亞的驚人突破, 立即派二位使徒
到撒瑪利亞探訪新接受主道的撒瑪利亞信徒, 這代表教會關切行動, 為的是要了解實情, 促進合一.
更奇妙的是, 這不是少數一兩個人, 而是一大群的撒瑪利亞人, 在這關鍵的時刻, 都有非常美好的
合一見證.
              腓利突進撒瑪利亞荒蕪異域, 靠著聖靈帶領及所賜能力, 排除萬難, 宣揚基督, 又行神蹟
奇事, 使當地百姓, 大受感動, 莫不同心合意, 聽從他的話, 這顯然是神在動工, 赦罪救人, 才能產生
如此神妙的果效.
              腓利奉主的名, 施展大能, 為許多被污鬼附身民眾趕鬼, 鬼抵擋不住, 大聲哀嚎, 從他們
身上滾出, 立即恢復正常; 此外, 他還治癒很多癱子和瘸子, 使他們完全康復, 故深得撒瑪利亞人
的信靠, 讓全城的人, 大大歡喜, 對他衷心擁戴, 敬愛萬分, 著實難得.

      II. 西門事件(徒8:9-24):
           在腓利事工中, 路加特別提出一個很重要的事件, 那就是西門事件, 轟動當時, 行邪術的
西門悔改歸主的事件, 藉著一個很特別的人, 在福音大能面前, 為神作美好的見證, 也給世人一個
分辨真假信仰的教訓, 析述如次:
          (I) 出身背景(徒8:9-11):
                行邪術的, 在撒瑪利亞原是藉行邪術, 嘩眾取寵的術士, 所謂行邪術, 不完全是迷信,
而是科學和迷信混合的產物, 包括符咒、交鬼、占星術等法術, 有真有假, 所以會出現一些奇事,
迷惑百姓.
                行邪術的西門, 應是撒瑪利亞從事邪術行業中佼佼者, 功力最大, 法術最高, 他所行
的奇事, 令當地 "百姓驚奇, 無論大小, 都聽從他."(徒8:9-10), 可見他行的邪術一定相當驚人. 千萬
別以為不信主的人, 絕不能行超自然的法術, 除非你不信有鬼, 有鬼就有鬼事, 也一定會有鬼活動.
基督徒不必怕鬼, 因為鬼怕你, 信徒若怕鬼, 那就是庸人自擾, 忘記自已有神賜護身符 - 聖靈印記.
徒19:13-18 記述了一個 "被鬼附身的勝了趕鬼的" 有趣故事, 話說祭司長士基瓦有七子, 他們驚見
使徒保羅奉主的名趕鬼, 輕而易舉, 毫不費力, 竟不自量力, 也要學樣趕鬼斂財, 有次, 這不知天高
地厚的七個小子齊心向一個被惡鬼附身的人, 擅稱主耶穌的名說 "我奉保羅所傳的耶穌, 敕令你們
出來!" 惡鬼不為所動, 毫髮無傷, 那會聽這些黃毛小子的胡謅, 乃反唇相譏 "耶穌我認識, 保羅我也
認識, 你們卻是誰呢?" 話猶未了, 那被惡鬼附身的人, 猛向七小子身上撲去, 勝了其中二個, 把他們
通通制伏, 最後, 叫這七個傢伙, 光身赤體, 帶傷倉皇狼狽, 從屋裏往外逃命, 真是醜態畢露, 令人
捧腹! 祭司長士基瓦七子趕鬼鬧劇, 就是明證. 我們尤其要記住, "魔鬼如同吼叫的獅子, 遍地遊行,
尋找可吞喫的人."(彼前5:8), 魔鬼就好像狗一樣, 狺狺狂吠, 你越是怕狗, 狗就吠得越凶, 說穿了,
鬼也是這樣.
                話說回頭, 腓利來撒瑪利亞傳福音之前, 行邪術的西門是當日撒瑪利亞, 公眾祟敬
人物, 因為與信仰有關, 他是行邪術的, 不是政治或企業領袖, 而是信仰上的宗教領袖, 因他有超人
特別本領, 能行邪術奇事, 令百姓驚奇, 認為他是了不起人物, 大家還稱他是 "神的大能者"(徒8:10),
他在百姓心目中的地位, 不難想見.
         (II) 假信歸主徒(8:12-13):
                神的僕人突然來到了撒瑪利亞, 讓我們看見一場主的真道與外邦異教的衝突交戰,
更突顯出福音的大能, 改變了迷信的邪術, 把人從黑暗中解救出來, 使行邪術的西門悔改歸主.
西門看見腓利所行的神蹟奇事, 比他的功力高超得多, 佩服得五體投地, 高手當前,
使他大受威脅, 深感自己技不如人, 差一大截, 把他的飯碗都砸了, 形像也毀了. 以前, 他所行奇事,
眾人驚奇, 百姓都跟著他走; 而今大家都不再跟他走, 轉而跟從腓利去了, 為了生存, 他詭計多端,
假裝信主, 想從腓利的身上得到法力, 學到絕招, 待腓利走後, 再重出江湖, 東山再起, 繼續去唬弄
大眾, 魚肉百姓.
       (III) 原形畢露(徒8:18-24):
                這行邪術的西門, 自己親耳聽見腓利傳講真道, 也親眼看見他行的神蹟奇事, 萬分
震憾, 非常驚奇, 衷心拜服, 他竟信了! 真信還是假信? 在神的照妖鏡下, 原形畢露, 無可遁形:
                1. 錢買使徒權柄(徒8:18-19):
                    這西門企圖用錢買使徒權柄, 因為他目睹使徒按手, 即有聖靈賜下, 我們都沒
見過聖靈, 他怎麼會看見聖靈呢? 聖靈降下產生的現象, 一定非常奇妙, 是他從來沒見過的, 令他
非常震驚, 而且使徒一按手, 聖靈就賜下, 太簡單容易了! 想想他自己作法, 裝神弄鬼, 費盡心機,
效果還大大不如, 所以他才動歪念, 想用錢去買使徒權柄, 太天真妄想了!
聖靈看不見, 但聖靈降下就有聖靈恩賜顯現, 肉眼可以看見, 經文 徒10:44-46
清楚告訴我們這個奇特的現象, "彼得說這話的時候, 聖靈降在一切聽道的人身上, 那些奉割禮和
彼得同來的信徒, 見聖靈的恩賜也澆在外邦人身上, 就都希奇, 因聽見他們說方言, 稱讚神為大."
西門的歪主意, 逃不過彼得的靈眼, 一眼看穿, 當即嚴厲責備他 "你想神的恩賜, 是可以用錢買的!"
(徒8:20), 太小看神, 何其不敬! 可見西門看見的不是聖靈本身, 而是聖靈恩賜, 因聖靈是看不見的,
而聖靈恩賜是可以看見的.
                     到底西門看見的聖靈恩賜是甚麼? 經文沒有明示, 應是跟五旬節, 聖靈第一次
降臨在門徒身上是一樣的, 也跟以後聖靈第一次降臨外邦人身上一樣. 聖靈第一次降在猶太人的
身上, 他們是主耶穌門徒, 是聖靈工作的開始, 恩賜是按聖靈所賜口才, 說起別國的話來, 也講說
神的大作為; 以後在哥尼流的家中, 聖靈第一次降在外邦人身上, 也是讓他們說方言, 稱讚神為大.
這是教會發展的新紀元, 所以不論是猶太人抑外邦人, 都有同樣的經歷, 讓後世的信徒知道, 無論
是猶太教會或外邦教會, 都是受同一聖靈的洗, 絕無猶太信徒高人一等, 外邦信徒低人一等的差別,
神公義恩慈, 沒大小眼, 一視同仁, 絕對公平公正, 不偏不依.
                       這次, 腓利突然來撒瑪利亞傳福音, 也一定發生同樣的事, 那是聖靈第一次降在
撒瑪利亞人的身上, 所以聖靈恩賜的奇妙, 使受了聖靈之後的人, 有很大的改變, 讓西門大感驚奇.
查聖靈三次降下, 恩賜相同, 但降下經過不同, 分述如下:
                       (1) 耶路撒冷信徒:
                             聖靈降在猶太門徒身上, 要他們聽從主的命令, 不要離開耶路撒冷, 靜侯
上面來的聖靈, 所以耶路撒冷信徒是在禱告等候聖靈降臨.
                       (2) 撒瑪利亞信徒:
                             這些人己經信了主, 腓利已向他們傳了主的真道, 他們需要神僕人按手,
才有聖靈降下. 在神的教會工作上, 神要把教會建在使徒的根基上, 神曾應許, 要把教會建立在
磬石上, 所以教會的建立, 要由彼得開始.
                        (3) 哥尼流家信徒:
                              哥尼流家的信徒, 全都是外邦人, 聖靈降在他們身上, 跟前二次有點不同,
他們原是慕道友, 有渴慕真道的心. 在彼得講道時, 道還沒講完, 聖靈就降在他們身上, 這次使徒
沒按手, 聖靈就降下, 不像撒瑪利亞的信徒, 要使徒按手, 才有聖靈降下. 由此可見, 受聖靈恩賜,
不一定要按手, 藉使徒講道, 也可促成.
            西門己悔改歸主, 也受了洗, 且常與腓利在一起(徒8:13), 要不是他看見使徒彼得按手,
聖靈立即降臨, 動了邪念, 想用錢收買使徒權柄, 才露出狐狸尾巴, 原形畢露. 原來他信主是別有
用心, 是個道地假信徒, 他異想天開, 想用錢打動使徒的心, 拿錢來收買屬靈權柄, 在西門心目中,
金錢萬能, 有錢能使鬼推磨, 這是一般人看重財寶的觀念, 若不經實際考驗, 隱藏心中, 不易暴露,
聖經一再教導我們, 神賜給我們的恩典, 絕不是金錢可以買得到的. 首先, 神的恩典錢絕對買不到;
再則, 神根本不要錢, 若神要錢, 豈不比凡人更窮? 世上很多宗教, 一進到他們神廟, 第一眼看見的
就是功德箱, 只要放錢進去, 就有功德, 供奉的神馬上保佑, 另眼相待, 這豈不表明他們的神, 比人
更窮更貪更愛錢, 見錢眼開, 收受賄賂, 太不像話, 我們的真神, 絕非如此, 不可不察.
西門此舉, 極不合宜, 更不恰當, 對彼得是極大的考驗, 若他收錢, 就是受試探, 軟弱跌倒;
若他心地純潔正直, 拒絕接受, 對他也是極大的侮辱. 感謝主, 彼得不為所動, 斷然拒絕. 西門灑錢
行賄的手段卑鄙, 目的更是邪惡, 他 "拿錢給使徒, 說, 把這權柄也給我, 叫我手按著誰, 誰就可以
受聖靈."(徒8:18-19), 原來他拿錢收買使徒權柄的目的, 是要像使徒一樣, 到處為人按手, 讓人得
聖靈恩賜, 好去拿錢斂財. 試想, 按手拿錢, 多麼方便有利, 從前他為人作法行邪術, 動手又動腳,
費半天勁, 才拿得到錢, 倘能簡化, 一按手就拿錢, 財源滾滾, 該多麼好! 好在他沒得逞, 他的不良
居心, 在神照妖鏡下, 原形畢露, 暴露無遺. 神的恩典是神聖的, 而神的恩賜是神的恩典, 不是世俗
商品, 可以隨便用錢買到的.
                  2. 嚴厲斥責西門(徒8:20-24):
                      世上的人都有一顆貪戀錢財的心, 為了錢財, 追逐不捨, 終身疲於奔命. 而其中
最詭秘最難被人識破的就是利用宗教斂財, 這種惡行, 不但一般宗教有之, 甚至基督教中, 也屢見
不鮮. 主耶穌十二個門徒中, 猶大就是箇中人物, 他貪財愛錢, 擔任司庫期間, 貪污腐敗, 常從庫中
偷取銀錢, 最後為了三十兩銀子, 不惜把主耶穌出賣, 遺臭萬年; 此外, 初期教會第一次發生內部
危機時, 亞拿尼亞和他的妻子撒非喇, 未把變賣田產銀子, 全數奉獻教會, 偷偷藏下私銀, 犯下欺哄
聖靈的大罪, 仆倒致死, 堪作信徒殷鑑.
                       行邪術的西門, 心地不正, 為了私利, 妄想用金錢試探主僕使徒彼得, 企圖收買
他的按手權柄, 彼得毫不猶豫, 立即當面嚴斥, "你的銀子, 和你一同滅亡罷."(徒8:20), 這一句話把
神僕人偉大人格, 充份顯示出來. 首先, 他為神申斥西門, 明白告訴他, 神的恩賜不是錢可以買到的;
再則, 他為自己責備他, "你侮辱我, 閉口!"
                        彼得直接嚴厲斥責西門, 指出他這種不正常心態, 是滅亡心態, 錢是使人滅亡的,
人不應跟著滅亡, 若不除去貪念, 金錢是會把人推到滅亡絕境的. 聖經一再告誡我們,"貪財是萬惡
根源"(提前6:10), 在信仰上也是如此, 彼得不但毫不留情斥責西門, 而且警告他,"你在這道上,無分
無關, 因為在神面前, 你的心不正, 你當懊悔你這罪惡, 祈求主, 或者你心裏的意念可得赦免, 我看
出你正在苦膽之中, 被罪惡捆綁."(徒8:21-23). 彼得一針見血, 點出真象, 西門心態實在可議, 但他
在教會中受了洗, 且常跟腓利在一起, 而他只是敬服腓利行的神蹟奇事, 不是真心信主, 著實可怕.
他過去能吸引百姓跟從他, 乃因他能行邪術, 迷惑眾人, 當他初見腓利行的神蹟, 就甚驚奇. 腓利
比他道高一等, 所以他羨慕敬佩腓利的, 只此而已. 至於他對主的道, 則無分無關, 所以他對真理
絲毫不感興趣, 存心不正, 目的不良, 給彼得一眼看穿,乃直接指出他正陷入罪惡捆綁中, 勸他儘早
認罪悔改. 可見彼得看透這卑鄙小人, 深墮罪惡深淵, 也想出來, 卻不肯出來, 所以直點出他 "正在
苦膽之中," 拿不出勇氣, 改過突圍, 故要他及早認罪悔改, 求主赦免, 才能脫離苦海, 重獲生機.
                          這行邪術的西門, 經使徒彼得嚴厲斥責, 警告勸誡後, 有無痛改前非, 認罪悔改?
經文並未明言, 惟從他的回應, "願你們為我求主, 叫你們所說的, 沒有一樣臨到我身上."(徒8:24)
看來, 他沒有, 如何見得? 彼得真心誠意, 要他速改前非, 作認罪禱告, 他非但不禱告, 反而要彼得
為他禱告, 不是作認罪禱告, 而是要求 "叫你們所說的, 沒有一樣臨到我身上." 足見他只是求不要
受罰就好了, 毫無悔意, 祗是虛應故事, 希望僥倖過關而已, 彼得對他的真誠勸誡, 可說毫無效果.
的確, 依教會傳說, 這行邪術的西門, 日後成為教會的大仇敵, 大力反對真神, 敵擋基督, 令人齒寒.
            (IV) 明辨真假:
                     1. 信仰對錯:
                         腓利突進撒瑪利亞之前, 西門在當地也是從事宗教活動者, 倘若腓利沒來, 他的
邪術行業會繼續興旺發達, 名利雙收. 不幸, 腓利突然出現, 同是行神蹟奇事, 就有真假不同, 信仰
對錯的差別. 腓利的工作重點, 主要在傳揚福音真理, 行神蹟奇事, 只是工具; 至於西門, 正好相反,
他是專行邪術, 用稀奇古怪的靈界事, 迷惑百姓, 使人誤以為真, 根本不尊重真理, 純係行邪術誘惑
群眾. 尤有甚者, 腓利得神大能, 行神蹟奇事, 眾人驚奇, 但他榮耀神, 沒有高抬自己; 而西門則妄自
尊大, 所行邪術, 都在高抬自己, 法力越高, 吹得越大, 一切都為一己私利, 使人誤認他 "就是那稱為
神的大能者"(徒8:10). 事實上, 真的福音跟假的邪術, 完全不同; 真的使者跟假的術士, 也迥然有異.
在神的榮光照耀下, 真假立判, 無所遁形.
                     2. 真假信徒:
                         真假信徒能否輕易去分辨出來? 要解答這個問題, 首先, 要省察自己, 勿先論斷
別人. 在西門事件中, 如果沒有彼得的慧眼, 能否揪出西門這個假信徒? 他表面上非常謙卑, 原是
為首的, 竟紆尊降貴, 拜服腓利, 悔改歸主, 而且常與腓利走在一起, 跟信徒也打成一片, 換今日
的話來說, 西門在教會中, 團契必到, 查經必來, 謙卑敬虔, 連腓利都被他糊住, 一點也看不出來!
結果發現他竟是假的, 是個道地披上羊皮的惡狼, 日後搖身一變, 成為殘害教會的宿敵, 著實可怕!
值得我們從這慘痛的事件中, 學到功課, 得到教訓, 提高警惕.

       III. 使徒探訪(徒8:14-17, 25):
              如前所述, 初期教會受到空前的逼害, 迫使門徒分散, 但使徒沒有出走, 仍留守耶路撒冷
教會, 繼續與敵周旋, 為主作見證, 並密切注視分散各地信徒的境況, 絕不是龜縮耶京, 閉關自守,
不問外事. 當喜訊傳來, 神的福音在腓利積極耕耘下, 於撒瑪利亞, 突破萬難, 順利開展, 神的外邦
兒女激增, 彼此相愛, 緊密交通, 在基督裏融和合一, 奮興之餘, 耶路撒冷教會立即差遣二位神重用
使徒彼得和約翰, 代表教會, 前往撒瑪利亞探訪宣慰.
              這是教會領袖使徒彼得從來沒有過的心胸, 他現在變得心胸寬大, 只要在基督裏, 大家就
融為一體, 成為一家人, 更重要的是, 神要二位使徒為後世教會立下美好榜樣, 所以特別差遣他們
二位前往撒瑪利亞, 為剛信主的外邦信徒, 按手禱告, 同時讓他們奉主耶穌的名受洗, 領受聖靈.
主耶穌在世之日, 曾跟彼得講過, "我要把天國的鑰匙給你."(太16:19), 讓他在神的國度裏
做個開路先鋒. 當聖靈降臨耶路撒冷, 彼得一批人先蒙恩領受, 以後福音廣傳, 臨到新的族群, 為對
後世的人有個合一見證, 故從使徒身上, 神把生命賜下, 轉賜給猶太人以外的新族群, 這是歷史上
嶄新一頁, 不管那一個族群, 都是信了同一位主, 他們所領受聖靈也是從同一個主耶穌來的. 嗣後,
又講到聖靈降臨, 那是降在羅馬百夫長及其親屬密友身上, 他們都是外邦人, 彼得在他家裏講道的
時候, 聖靈就降臨在他們身上(徒10:2-48).
              猶太人、撒瑪利亞人和外邦人, 不分彼此, 從那次以後, 只要接受耶穌基督, 神就把應許
的聖靈賜給信他的人. "你們既聽見真理的道, 就是那叫你們得救的福音, 也信了基督, 既然信祂,
就受了應許的聖靈為印記, 這聖靈是我們得基業的憑據, 直等到神之民被贖, 使祂的榮耀得著稱讚."
(弗1:13-14). 而今, 世界的門敞開, 只要奉主耶穌的名受洗, 但受洗前一定要聽主得救的福音, 神就
會把應許的聖靈賜給受洗的人, 聖靈是信徒得救的憑據, 每個信徒身上都有聖靈在工作.

參. 福音傳非洲太監(徒8:26-40)
      I. 太監蒙恩(徒8:26-39):
          司提反殉道以後, 教會在外力壓迫之下, 信徒分散, 福音外傳, 遍地開花, 蓄勢待發, 因而
有意想不到的突破性發展. 在使徒保羅向外邦人傳福音之前, 就有一位教會執事腓利, 神差遣他把
福音傳向非洲, 這是腓利外傳福音, 除撒瑪利亞的突破外, 另一個非常重要神祝福的事工.
          福音傳向非洲最初的過程和發生的地點並不在非洲, 而是在聖地西南方的迦薩, 往非洲
去的曠野路上, 故福音傳非洲的火是在那條荒僻的路上點起的, 也是個人一對一點燃的. 這二個人,
一個是神的忠心傳道僕人; 另一個是熱心慕道的非洲太監. 這太監在埃提阿伯女王干大基的手下,
總管銀庫, 換言之, 他是女王的財政大臣. 埃提阿伯(Ethiopia), 今稱衣索比亞或 阿比西尼亞, 位於
非洲東北部, 那是非洲基督教最旺, 信徒最多的地方, 這是腓利在迦薩曠野點燃福音之火的結果.
這一事工由腓利開始, 影響重大, 可說是非常奇妙的突破性發展.
          (I) 巧遇太監(徒8:26-30a):
                 1. 奇妙相遇:
                    (1) 神奇妙的引導:
                          這是一次非常奇妙的機遇, 聖經昭示我們 "凡被神的靈引導的, 都是神的
兒子."(羅8:14). 由此可見, 做神的兒子擁有一種特權, 那就是神的靈會引導你. 靈的引導, 有的我們
喜歡, 有的我們不喜歡; 有的我們明白, 有的我們不明白. 腓利在撒瑪利亞傳福音, 效果奇佳, 信主
的人非常多, 成就非凡, 且與人的相交, 非常親密融洽, 就在這功成名就的時候, 神突然遣使者前來,
要他 "起來, 向南走, 往那從耶路撒冷下迦薩的路上去, 那路是曠野."(徒8:26). 這是多麼大的呼召與
轉變. 腓利到撒瑪利亞是為傳福音, 現神突然命他到荒涼的曠野, 杳無人煙的不毛之地, 究竟要他
做甚麼? 不知道, 這令人摸不著頭腦的引導, 實在是很難令人信服的指令.
                    (2) 人奇妙的順服:
                          腓利聽到神使者吩咐, 二話不說, "就起身去了."(徒8:27), 他毫無條件完全
順服, 神怎樣吩咐他, 他就遵命怎樣做. 他的順服很難, 但他順服的果效非常美好. 這裏讓我們看見
一位完全順服的神僕, 他給我們立下美好的榜樣, 讓我們在跟隨主的路上, 學到順服主的寶貴功課:
                          a.  若主的吩咐你明白而順服, 自然最好;
                          b.  若主的吩咐你不明白, 但憑著信心順服, 果效會出奇的好.
                          玆舉二例, 證明以上二點, 言之有理, 絕非虛言:
                          [例一] 掃羅是當日教會最大的仇敵, 凶殘冷血, 逼害基督徒, 毫不手軟.
在那風聲鶴戾的時刻, 主吩咐大馬色一位信徒亞拿尼亞去看一個要捉拿殺他的掃羅, 神沒有說明
原因, 只命令他去, 他也不知為何要去, 但他完全順服去了, 結果培養堅固了一位神最重用的保羅,
讓保羅知道主耶穌赦免了他, 把他逼害教會的滔天大罪, 一筆勾銷(徒9:10-11).
                          [例二] 彼得到外邦人哥尼流家中傳福音也不容易, 神的差遣, 起初他
不明白, 後來神以異象指引他, 他終於順服, 親手打開了福音傳外邦人的門, 影響深遠, 果效奇佳
(徒10:9-16).
             總之, 當我們碰到神的吩咐, 不清楚, 不明白, 也不喜歡時, 若本著信心, 相信 "神的意念
高過我們的意念; 神的道路高過我們的道路."(賽55:8-9), 毫不懷疑, 毅然信服, 照著去做, 往往會
得到意想不到的果效.
                2. 巧遇經過:
                    經文寫得好, 用 "不料" 來描述二人的巧遇, 的確, 腓利和太監都料想不到彼此
會在曠野相遇, 相遇不是必然, 重要條件是腓利順服神, 依照指示到曠野去了, 在那裏他看見太監
的馬車, 聖靈立即指引腓利, 要他 "貼近那車走, 腓利就跑到太監那裏."(古卷記載"那時正是響午")
(徒8:29-30), 從耶路撒冷往南走, 就是人煙稀少的曠野, 在炎炎烈日之下, 腓利跑步追上太監的馬車,
其忠心順服, 為主打拼之情, 躍然紙上.
                    這個太監非等閒之輩, 來頭不小, 他是埃提阿伯女王干大基總管銀庫財政大臣,
他剛從耶路撒冷做完禮拜回非洲, 一心渴慕神, 神見他在歸途車上, 不數銀錢, 反倒勤讀聖經, 渴慕
追求之情, 感動神靈, "耶和華的眼目, 遍察全地, 他要顯大能, 幫助心存誠實的人."(代下16:9). 此外,
"飢渴慕義的人有福了, 因為他們必得飽足."(太5:6). 這太監真不簡單, 他不是猶太人, 竟老遠慕名
從非洲跑到聖城耶路撒冷來做禮拜, 做完歸途上, 他不談銀錢, 只追求真理, 神就看重他這顆渴慕
追求的心, 特別差遣一位先知來幫助他, 這人就是最順服神的腓利, 他給我們樹立了順服神的美好
榜樣. 那是個很重要的時刻, 他若不趕快跑, 車子就跑掉了, 永遠遇不上那位太監, 當時不會覺得有
甚麼損失, 盡了力, 遇不到就算了; 但今天看來, 損失可就大了, 機會稍縱即逝, 不會再來. 傳福音的
機遇更非抓住不可, 機會一失, 後果就完全不同, 倘腓利沒有及時趕上那太監, 福音就不可能早早
傳入非洲, 多少靈魂因此淪喪, 豈不禍哉!
        (II) 輔導太監(徒8:30b-34):
               腓利順服, 遵照聖靈指示引領, 急忙趕上後, 貼近太監的車行走時, 發現那太監正在
車上讀先知以賽亞的書, 他竟是個勤讀聖經, 追求真理的人, 於是腓利問: "你所念的, 你明白麼?"
他說: "沒有人指教我, 怎能明白呢?"(徒8:30-31), 顯示這太監當時心靈狀態. 很多人從來不讀聖經,
因不懂不明白, 這太監也不懂不明白, 但他喫而不捨, 還是勤讀聖經, 而他的苦悶是沒有人指教他.
怎會如此? 試想他上耶路撒冷做禮拜, 聖殿中難道沒有老師輔導指教他嗎? 難道也沒有虔誠猶太
信徒幫助指點他嗎? 反而驚動神, 要找腓利老遠到曠野去指教他. 那時, 沒有汽車飛機等現代交通
工具, 要派人到遙遠荒僻的曠野去, 實在不方便, 也很不容易. 這太監在耶路撒冷那麼方便的地方,
竟沒有人去指教他, 原因很多, 主要是他是遠從非洲來的外邦人, 尤其他還是個被閹割太監, "凡腎,
受傷的或被閹割的人, 不可入耶和華的會."(申23:1), 所以猶太人輕看他, 縱使他老遠從非洲來耶路
撒冷做禮拜, 他們對這一渴慕真道的外邦人, 還是戴著有色眼鏡看他, 敬而遠之, 不予理睬.
                這太監在耶路撒冷受到冷落, 所以內心非常苦悶, 在聖殿禮拜苦悶, 回程路上更加
苦悶, 儘管心中苦悶, 但他不灰心喪志, 還是勤讀聖經, 這是我們多好的榜樣! 讀聖經不懂, 不要緊,
只要繼續去讀, 喫而不捨, 永不放棄, 最終神一定會讓你懂, 讓你明白. 若神的靈不感動你, 神一定
會差遣像腓利一樣好老師來幫助你, 釋疑解惑, 所以, 只要你肯讀, 神一定會讓你領悟明白.
腓利貼近太監的車走的時候, 聽見那太監在唸以賽亞書, 這卷書跟整部聖經很相似,
共有六十六章, 與聖經六十六卷書相呼應巧合, 這還不重要,最重要的是以賽亞書對主耶穌的救恩,
啟示得最清楚, 尤其書中徒53:1-12是預言主耶穌經文, 說得最是真實詳盡, 有謂這段經文是 "聖經
的心臟" 可見這太監對聖經中最重要的啟示, 大有興趣; 一般人對聖經有興趣; 只是喜歡在經文中
找點亮光, 但這太監非尋常之輩, 他不是在找亮光, 一開始竟注意到聖經中最重要那一點, 他覺得
耶和華和祂的贖罪祭, 意義重大, 很想去了解, 所以他非常認真唸以賽亞書53:7-8 "他像羊被牽到
宰殺之地, 又像羊羔在剪毛人的手下無聲, 他也是這樣不開口. 他卑微的時候, 人不按公義審判他,
誰能述說他的世代, 因為他的生命從地上奪去."(徒8:32-33), 當他苦苦無法了解這段經文的時侯,
神及時差遣腓利來輔導指點他. 腓利順服, 及時趕到, 首先問他: "你所念的, 你明白麼?"(徒8:30),
太監毫不掩飾, 坦白回答說: "沒有人指教我, 怎能明白呢?"(徒8:31), 於是, 請腓利上車, 與他同坐,
足見他態度真誠, 虛心請教, 真不簡單. 別忘了, 他是女王的寵臣, 坐在豪華馬車, 高高在上, 現突然
於曠野遇上了腓利, 他絕不知道這陌生人是神差遣來的, 竟能紆尊降貴, 虛心求教, 坦白承認自己
不懂, 且主動提出他的問題, 請教腓利,"請問先知說這話, 是指著誰, 是指著自己呢, 還是指著別人
呢?"(徒8:34). 很多人聽道查經都會提出問題, 但往往提出莫名其妙問題, 令人啼笑皆非! 這位太監
雖不明白經文, 但能很中肯地提出信仰實質的中心問題, 使他被神看中的特點, 顯露無遺, 以致能
感動神, 派專人幫助他, 真不容易.
     (III) 善教太監(徒8:35):
              對太監提的問題, "腓利就開口從這經上起, 對他傳講耶穌."(徒8:35). 那天, 如果太監
問你, "這是指著誰講的?" 你能否毫不遲疑立即回答出來? 可能很多人連這段經文出自何處, 都攪
不清楚, 只好聳肩擺手, 說聲抱歉, 另請高明. 但腓利不然, 毫不猶豫, 開口就把整部聖經貫通, 最後
把焦點集中在主耶穌的身上, 這就把聖經讀通了! 因為整部聖經都介紹主耶穌, 講述祂怎樣救贖人
的罪. 腓利可說是在曠野專門為太監一個人開查經班, 諄諄善教, 把聖經重點, 毫無保留, 悉心教導
這位遠從非洲來的慕道友. 我們把真理說得清楚明白, 對一個人的蒙恩得救, 確非常重要, 所以傳
福音時, 對真理講解, 一點也不能含糊, 一定要把怎樣接受真理, 交待得一清二楚, 這是我們領人
歸主時, 很重要的操練.
      (IV) 太監受洗(徒8:36-39):
              太監經腓利指點後, 突然開竅領悟, 豁然貫通, 看見有水的地方, 就主動要求要受洗,
古卷第37節小字 "腓利說, 你若是一心相信, 就可以. 他回答說, 我信耶穌基督, 是神的兒子." 太監
要求受洗是否太快? 一般人信主後, 一至五年才受洗, 乃係常事, 這太監不久前還讀不懂聖經, 後經
腓利指點, 才開竅, 一懂就要受洗, 他為甚麼這樣迫不及待呢? 因為他渴慕得救很久, 對聖經並非
一竅不通, 只是沒有領悟開竅, 他真誠敬虔, 做了很久禮拜, 聽了很多次道, 可是總找不到信仰的
實質和中心, 心中納悶, 非常渴慕, 現終於得著了, 所以看見水就喜出望外, 立即要求腓利給他施洗,
這是他相信真理後的自然表現, 也不違古卷小字啟示, "信而受洗必然得救." 的確, 有甚麼比得救
更寶貴重要? 就像人不慎跌落水中, 快要淹死沒頂危急關頭, 當然希望有人趕緊來救他, 越快越好,
越早越好. 所以這太監當他知道真的要得救了, 而且知道信而受洗, 必然得救, 當然看見水就毫不
遲疑, 馬上就要求腓利給他施洗. 只要一心相信. 立即接受洗禮, 就可得救, 這是何等明智的抉擇
要求!
                太監得救以後, 非常快樂, 當然也有得救的喜樂, 因他長久為尋找追求的真理, 終於
得著了, 真正找到救主, 成為新造的人, 何等難得寶貴! 前他在耶路撒冷聖殿, 沒有找到的, 想不到
竟在荒涼的曠野終於找到了, 他現在回非洲去, 不是一個人獨自回去, 而目是找到救主與他同行,
但美中不足的是, 在人看來, 他受洗一出水中, 就再也看不見他的恩師腓利, 讓他頓失良師, 不免
傷感惆悵; 但神有衪自己的安排計劃, 腓利不負神命, 圓滿達成交付任務, 神就把他們分開, 把腓利
提走, 讓他到別處工作, 繼續為神傳福音, 拯救失喪的靈魂. 神為拯救太監的靈魂, 特別差遣腓利到
曠野去, 雖然付出相當的代價, 但得到非常美好的果效, 把福音早早傳入非洲, 拯救了多少失喪的
靈魂, 感謝主!

 II. 傳道行蹤(徒8:40, 21:8-9):
       腓利見太監真心誠意信耶穌基督, 乃答應為他施洗, 二人一同下水, 腓利就給他行了洗禮,
禮畢, 任務圓滿達成. 此時, 腓利在太監眼前, 突然消失, 無影無蹤, 太監發現恩師不見了, 難免悵然,
無可奈何, 只好歡歡喜喜上路, 回非洲去了.
       原來腓利一從水裏上來, 神的靈立即把他提走了, 他從曠野被提到那裏去, 經文未有明言,
但後來有人在亞鎖都看見他, 亞鎖都在迦薩以北, 約帕以南, 靠近地中海一小城, 腓利這位福音使者
"走遍那地方, 在各城宣揚福音."(徒8:40). 依據考證, 他從亞鎖都經雅麥尼亞、約帕和安提帕底等地,
一直到該撒利亞, 最後定居於斯, 娶妻生四女, 徒21:8-9 記載 "第二天, 我們離開那裏(多利買), 來到
該撒利亞, 就進了傳福音的腓利家裏, 和他同住, 他是那七個執事的一個, 他有四個女兒, 都是處女,
是說豫言的." 可見腓利最後定居在該撒利亞, 並曾接待保羅第三次旅行佈道回程的一行人. 他的
四個閨女, 不讓老父, 也為主辛勞, 廣傳福音, 興旺主道, 一時傳為佳話.

                                                                          (本回完)

                                                                      感謝主, 讚美主,
                                                                      一切榮耀歸我主,
                                                                      哈利路亞, 阿們!

                                            2020年11月16日 台北 / 2020年11月30日 佈樂格 台北