約伯記 29
1 約伯繼續他的言論說：
Job went on speaking.
2 誰能賜我似以前的歲月，像以往天主護守我的時日呢﹖
“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
3 那時他的燈，光照在我頭上，藉他的光明，我走過黑暗。
His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
4 惟願我如壯年之時，那時天主護佑我的帳幕；
When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
5 全能者與我相偕，我的子女環繞著我；
The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
6 那時我以奶油洗腳，崖石流油成河。
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
7 當我走出城門，在市井設我座位之時，
I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
8 少年人看見我都迴避，老年人都起身站立；
The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
9 王侯停止講話，用手堵住自己的口；
The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 首領不敢出聲，舌頭緊貼上顎。
The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
11 凡有耳聽見我的，必稱我有福；凡有眼看見我的，都必稱讚我。
Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
12 因為我援助了呼救的窮人，和無依無靠的孤兒。
because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 那受喪亡之痛的人稱謝我，我使寡婦的心歡樂。
Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
14 我披上正義，正義就如我衣；我的公正，猶如我的長袍和冠冕。
Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
15 我作了盲人的眼，跛者的腳。
I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 我成了窮人之父，我調查過素不相識者的案件。
I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
17 我打碎惡人的燎牙，由他牙齒中奪出了獵物。
I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 我心想：我必壽終正寢，我的壽數必如塵沙。
I thought I would die at home, after many years.
19 我的根蔓延到水邊，夜間甘露落在我的枝葉上。
Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
20 我的榮耀不斷更新，我手中的弓日新月異。
Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
21 聽我講話的人，屏息等待，靜聽我的指教。
People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
22 我講話之後，無人再敢講話，我的話像水珠滴在他們身上。
Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
23 他們期待我如望甘霖，張著大口如渴盼春雨。
They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
24 我向他們微笑，他們不敢相信；我和善的面容，他們必不放過。
When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
25 我為他們選擇了道路，身居前導，一如立在軍中的君王；我引他們到那裏，他們就去。
I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
