約伯記 29

1 約伯又接着說：

And Job again took up his discourse, and said,

2 惟願我的景況如從前的月份， 如上帝保守我的日子。

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

3 那時他的燈照在我頭上； 我藉他的光行過黑暗。

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

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；

as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was upon 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 sons were about me,

6 奶多可洗我的腳； 磐石為我出油成河。

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

7 我出到城門， 在街上設立座位；

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

8 少年人見我而迴避， 老年人也起身站立；

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

9 王子都停止說話， 用手摀口；

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

10 首領靜默無聲， 舌頭貼住上膛。

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

11 耳朵聽我的，就稱我有福； 眼睛看我的，便稱讚我；

For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me.

12 因我拯救哀求的困苦人 和無人幫助的孤兒。

Because I delivered the poor who cried, also the fatherless who had none 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 ready to perish came upon me, and 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 as a robe and a diadem.

15 我為瞎子的眼， 瘸子的腳。

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

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 the needy, and I searched out the case of him 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。

And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of 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 shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

19 我的根長到水邊； 露水終夜霑在我的枝上。

My root is spread out to the waters, and the dew lays all night upon my branch.

20 我的榮耀在身上增新； 我的弓在手中日強。

My glory is fresh in me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.

21 人聽見我而仰望， 靜默等候我的指教。

To me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.

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 they spoke not again, and my speech distilled upon them.

23 他們仰望我如仰望雨， 又張開口如切慕春雨。

And they waited for me as for the rain. And they opened their mouth wide as 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 had no confidence, and they did not cast down the light of my countenance.

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 chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as a man who comforts the mourners.