1約伯自信智慧並非不及三友約伯回答說：
1Then Job answered,
2“你們真的是有知識的民，你們死了，智慧也跟你們一同滅亡。
2“No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
3但我也有聰明像你們一樣，我並非不及你們，像你們所說的這些事，有誰不曉得呢？
3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these?
4我這求告 神，又蒙他應允的，竟成為朋友的笑柄，公義完全的人竟成為笑柄，
4I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
5平靜的人心中藐視災禍，作將滑跌者的分。
5In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.
6強盜的帳幕興旺，惹 神發怒的安穩， 神的手賞賜他們。
6The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their God in their hands.
7你且問走獸，走獸必指教你，又問空中的飛鳥，飛鳥必告訴你；
7“But ask the animals, now, and they shall teach you; the birds of the sky, and they shall tell you.
8或向地說話，地必指教你，海中的魚也必向你說明。
8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you. The fish of the sea shall declare to you.
9從這一切看來，誰不知道，是耶和華的手作成這事的呢？
9Who doesn’t know that in all these, the hand of Yahweh has done this,
10活物的生命與全人類的氣息，都在耶和華的手中。
10in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
11耳朵不是試驗說話，好像上膛嘗試食物嗎？
11Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
12你們說：老年的有智慧，長壽的有聰明。
12With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
13陳述 神的智慧與能力他有智慧與能力，又有謀略與聰明。
13“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
14他所拆毀的，就不能重建，他所囚禁的，就不能釋放。
14Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
15他若把水阻截，水就乾涸，他再把水放出，水就使地翻倒。
15Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
16他有大能與智謀，受騙的與騙人的，都是屬他的。
16With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
17他把謀士剝衣擄去，並且愚弄審判官。
17He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.
18他解開了君王綁人的繩索，又用腰布捆綁君王的腰。
18He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.
19他把祭司剝衣擄去，傾覆有權有勢的人。
19He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
20他除掉忠信人的言論，又除去老年人的辨別力。
20He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21他把羞辱傾倒在王子上，又鬆開壯士的腰帶。
21He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.
22他從黑暗中彰顯奧祕，把死蔭領進光中。
22He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
23他使邦國興盛，又毀滅他們，擴張邦國，又把他們擄去。
23He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
24他除掉地上人民中首領的悟性，使他們在無路的荒野之地飄流。
24He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25他們在黑暗無光中摸索，他使他們飄泊無定像醉漢一樣。”
25They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.