Job 29
1 Job again took up his parable, and said,
約伯又接着說：
2 "Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
惟願我的景況如從前的月份， 如上帝保守我的日子。
3 when his lamp shone on my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,
那時他的燈照在我頭上； 我藉他的光行過黑暗。
4 as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was in my tent,
我願如壯年的時候： 那時我在帳棚中， 上帝待我有密友之情；
5 when Shaddai was yet with me, and my children were around me,
全能者仍與我同在； 我的兒女都環繞我。
6 when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
奶多可洗我的腳； 磐石為我出油成河。
7 when I went forth to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.
我出到城門， 在街上設立座位；
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
少年人見我而迴避， 老年人也起身站立；
9 The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
王子都停止說話， 用手摀口；
10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
首領靜默無聲， 舌頭貼住上膛。
11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it commended me:
耳朵聽我的，就稱我有福； 眼睛看我的，便稱讚我；
12 Because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had none to help him,
因我拯救哀求的困苦人 和無人幫助的孤兒。
13 the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
將要滅亡的為我祝福； 我也使寡婦心中歡樂。
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
我以公義為衣服， 以公平為外袍和冠冕。
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
我為瞎子的眼， 瘸子的腳。
16 I was a father to the needy. The cause of him who I did not know, I searched out.
我為窮乏人的父； 素不認識的人，我查明他的案件。
17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
我打破不義之人的牙床， 從他牙齒中奪了所搶的。
18 Then I said, 'I shall die in my own house, I shall number my days as the sand.
我便說：我必死在家中， 必增添我的日子，多如塵沙。
19 My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
我的根長到水邊； 露水終夜霑在我的枝上。
20 My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.'
我的榮耀在身上增新； 我的弓在手中日強。
21 "Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
人聽見我而仰望， 靜默等候我的指教。
22 After my words they did not speak again. My speech fell on them.
我說話之後，他們就不再說； 我的言語像雨露滴在他們身上。
23 They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
他們仰望我如仰望雨， 又張開口如切慕春雨。
24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They did not reject the light of my face.
他們不敢自信，我就向他們含笑； 他們不使我臉上的光改變。
25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
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。
