約伯記 29

1 約伯又接着說：

Job resumed speaking and said,

2 惟願我的景況如從前的月份， 如上帝保守我的日子。

“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,

3 那時他的燈照在我頭上； 我藉他的光行過黑暗。

when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.

4 我願如壯年的時候： 那時我在帳棚中， 上帝待我有密友之情；

Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on my tent,

5 全能者仍與我同在； 我的兒女都環繞我。

when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,

6 奶多可洗我的腳； 磐石為我出油成河。

when my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

7 我出到城門， 在街上設立座位；

When I went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,

8 少年人見我而迴避， 老年人也起身站立；

the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.

9 王子都停止說話， 用手摀口；

The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.

10 首領靜默無聲， 舌頭貼住上膛。

The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.

11 耳朵聽我的，就稱我有福； 眼睛看我的，便稱讚我；

For after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of me

12 因我拯救哀求的困苦人 和無人幫助的孤兒。

because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, and the one who had no father when he had no one to help him.

13 將要滅亡的為我祝福； 我也使寡婦心中歡樂。

The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

14 我以公義為衣服， 以公平為外袍和冠冕。

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.

15 我為瞎子的眼， 瘸子的腳。

I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.

16 我為窮乏人的父； 素不認識的人，我查明他的案件。

I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.

17 我打破不義之人的牙床， 從他牙齒中奪了所搶的。

I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.

18 我便說：我必死在家中， 必增添我的日子，多如塵沙。

Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.

19 我的根長到水邊； 露水終夜霑在我的枝上。

My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.

20 我的榮耀在身上增新； 我的弓在手中日強。

The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'

21 人聽見我而仰望， 靜默等候我的指教。

To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.

22 我說話之後，他們就不再說； 我的言語像雨露滴在他們身上。

After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.

23 他們仰望我如仰望雨， 又張開口如切慕春雨。

They always waited for me as they waited for rain; they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, as they would do for the latter rain.

24 他們不敢自信，我就向他們含笑； 他們不使我臉上的光改變。

I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.

25 我為他們選擇道路，又坐首位； 我如君王在軍隊中居住， 又如弔喪的安慰傷心的人。

I selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.