Job 29
1 Job spoke again,
| ויסף איוב שאת משלו ויאמר |
2 “I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
| מי-יתנני כירחי-קדם כימי אלוה ישמרני |
3 During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
| בהלו נרו עלי ראשי לאורו אלך חשך |
4 At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
| כאשר הייתי בימי חרפי בסוד אלוה עלי אהלי |
5 Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
| בעוד שדי עמדי סביבותי נערי |
6 [My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
| ברחץ הליכי בחמה וצור יצוק עמדי פלגי-שמן |
7 “Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
| בצאתי שער עלי-קרת ברחוב אכין מושבי |
8 and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
| ראוני נערים ונחבאו וישישים קמו עמדו |
9 The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
| שרים עצרו במלים וכף ישימו לפיהם |
10 and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
| קול-נגידים נחבאו ולשונם לחכם דבקה |
11 When they [SYN] all heard [what I told them], they said good things about me. When they [SYN] saw me (OR, what I had done), they commended me,
| כי אזן שמעה ותאשרני ועין ראתה ותעידני |
12 because I had helped the poor people when they cried out for help and I aided/helped orphans who had no one else to help them.
| כי-אמלט עני משוע ויתום ולא-עזר לו |
13 Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
| ברכת אבד עלי תבא ולב אלמנה ארנן |
14 I always acted justly; my continually doing that was like [MET] a robe that I wore and a turban [that was wrapped around my head].
| צדק לבשתי וילבשני כמעיל וצניף משפטי |
15 [It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
| עינים הייתי לעור ורגלים לפסח אני |
16 I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
| אב אנכי לאביונים ורב לא-ידעתי אחקרהו |
17 My causing wicked people [to be unable to continue oppressing others was like] [MET] breaking the fangs [of fierce wild animals] and forcing them to drop from their teeth/mouths the animals that they had caught/seized.
| ואשברה מתלעות עול ומשניו אשליך טרף |
18 “At that time I thought, ‘Surely I will live securely, until I am very old [SIM], and I will die at home [with my family].’
| ואמר עם-קני אגוע וכחול ארבה ימים |
19 I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
| שרשי פתוח אלי-מים וטל ילין בקצירי |
20 People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
| כבודי חדש עמדי וקשתי בידי תחליף |
21 “When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
| לי-שמעו ויחלו וידמו למו עצתי |
22 After I finished speaking, they did not say any more; [it was as though] [MET] my words fell on their ears [like refreshing drops of rain].
| אחרי דברי לא ישנו ועלימו תטף מלתי |
23 They waited for me [to speak] like they wait for rain; they [appreciated what I said] like [MET] [farmers appreciate] the final rain in the spring [before the dry season].
| ויחלו כמטר לי ופיהם פערו למלקוש |
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
| אשחק אלהם לא יאמינו ואור פני לא יפילון |
25 I was their leader, and I decided what things [would be good for them to do]; I was among them like [SIM] a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts [others] who are mourning.”
| אבחר דרכם ואשב ראש ואשכון כמלך בגדוד כאשר אבלים ינחם |
