Giobbe 29
1 Giobbe riprese il suo discorso e disse:
And Job again took up the word and said,
2 “Oh foss’io come ne’ mesi d’una volta, come ne’ giorni in cui Dio mi proteggeva,
If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!
3 quando la sua lampada mi risplendeva sul capo, e alla sua luce io camminavo nelle tenebre!
When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
4 Oh fossi com’ero a’ giorni della mia maturità, quando Iddio vegliava amico sulla mia tenda,
As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
5 quando l’Onnipotente stava ancora meco, e avevo i miei figliuoli d’intorno;
While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
6 quando mi lavavo i piedi nel latte e dalla roccia mi fluivano ruscelli d’olio!
When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
7 Allorché uscivo per andare alla porta della città e mi facevo preparare il seggio sulla piazza,
When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
8 i giovani, al vedermi, si ritiravano, i vecchi s’alzavano e rimanevano in piedi;
The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
9 i maggiorenti cessavan di parlare e si mettevan la mano sulla bocca;
The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
10 la voce dei capi diventava muta, la lingua s’attaccava al loro palato.
The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
11 L’orecchio che mi udiva, mi diceva beato; l’occhio che mi vedeva mi rendea testimonianza,
For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
12 perché salvavo il misero che gridava aiuto, e l’orfano che non aveva chi lo soccorresse.
For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.
13 Scendea su me la benedizione di chi stava per perire, e facevo esultare il cuor della vedova.
The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
14 La giustizia era il mio vestimento ed io il suo; la probità era come il mio mantello e il mio turbante.
I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
15 Ero l’occhio del cieco, il piede dello zoppo;
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
16 ero il padre de’ poveri, e studiavo a fondo la causa dello sconosciuto.
I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
17 Spezzavo la ganascia all’iniquo, e gli facevo lasciar la preda che avea fra i denti.
By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
18 E dicevo: “Morrò nel mio nido, e moltiplicherò i miei giorni come la rena;
Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
19 le mie radici si stenderanno verso l’acque, la rugiada passerà la notte sui miei rami;
My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
20 la mia gloria sempre si rinnoverà, e l’arco rinverdirà nella mia mano”.
My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
21 Gli astanti m’ascoltavano pieni d’aspettazione, si tacevan per udire il mio parere.
Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
22 Quand’avevo parlato, non replicavano; la mia parola scendeva su loro come una rugiada.
After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
23 E m’aspettavan come s’aspetta la pioggia; aprivan larga la bocca come a un acquazzone di primavera.
They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
24 Io sorridevo loro quand’erano sfiduciati; e non potevano oscurar la luce del mio volto.
I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
25 Quando andavo da loro, mi sedevo come capo, ed ero come un re fra le sue schiere, come un consolatore in mezzo agli afflitti.
I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
