约伯记 29

1 约伯又接着说：

Job again took up his parable, and said,

2 惟愿我的景况如从前的月份， 如 神保守我的日子。

“Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;

3 那时他的灯照在我头上； 我借他的光行过黑暗。

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

4 我愿如壮年的时候： 那时我在帐棚中， 神待我有密友之情；

as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was in my tent,

5 全能者仍与我同在； 我的儿女都环绕我。

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

6 奶多可洗我的脚； 磐石为我出油成河。

when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,

7 我出到城门， 在街上设立座位；

when I went out to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.

8 少年人见我而回避， 老年人也起身站立；

The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.

9 王子都停止说话， 用手捂口；

The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

10 首领静默无声， 舌头贴住上膛。

The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.

11 耳朵听我的，就称我有福； 眼睛看我的，便称赞我；

For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it commended me,

12 因我拯救哀求的困苦人 和无人帮助的孤儿。

because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had no one to help him,

13 将要灭亡的为我祝福； 我也使寡妇心中欢乐。

the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 我以公义为衣服， 以公平为外袍和冠冕。

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.

15 我为瞎子的眼， 瘸子的脚。

I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.

16 我为穷乏人的父； 素不认识的人，我查明他的案件。

I was a father to the needy. I researched the cause of him whom I didn’t know.

17 我打破不义之人的牙床， 从他牙齿中夺了所抢的。

I broke the jaws of the unrighteous and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

18 我便说：我必死在家中， 必增添我的日子，多如尘沙。

Then I said, ‘I will die in my own house, I will count my days as the sand.

19 我的根长到水边； 露水终夜沾在我的枝上。

My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.

20 我的荣耀在身上增新； 我的弓在手中日强。

My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.’

21 人听见我而仰望， 静默等候我的指教。

“Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.

22 我说话之后，他们就不再说； 我的言语像雨露滴在他们身上。

After my words they didn’t speak again. My speech fell on them.

23 他们仰望我如仰望雨， 又张开口如切慕春雨。

They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.

24 他们不敢自信，我就向他们含笑； 他们不使我脸上的光改变。

I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.

25 我为他们选择道路，又坐首位； 我如君王在军队中居住， 又如吊丧的安慰伤心的人。

I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.