約伯記 29
1 約伯繼續他的言論說：
And Job continued to take up his parable, and said,
2 誰能賜我似以前的歲月，像以往天主護守我的時日呢﹖
Who will give me back months like those which are past, days like those when God guarded me;
3 那時他的燈，光照在我頭上，藉他的光明，我走過黑暗。
When his lamp shone over my head, when by his light I could walk in darkness;
4 惟願我如壯年之時，那時天主護佑我的帳幕；
As I was in the days of my abundance, when the confidence of God was upon my tent:
5 全能者與我相偕，我的子女環繞著我；
When the Almighty was yet with me, when my servants stood round about me;
6 那時我以奶油洗腳，崖石流油成河。
When I bathed my steps in cream, and the rock poured out near me streamlets of oil!
7 當我走出城門，在市井設我座位之時，
When I went out to the gate close by the city, when in the open place I established my seat:
8 少年人看見我都迴避，老年人都起身站立；
Young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged rose up, and remained standing;
9 王侯停止講話，用手堵住自己的口；
Princes stopped in the midst of [their] words, and laid their hand on their mouth:
10 首領不敢出聲，舌頭緊貼上顎。
The voice of nobles was arrested, and their tongue cleaved to their palate.
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。
For the ear that heard me called me happy; and the eye that saw me bore witness for me;
12 因為我援助了呼救的窮人，和無依無靠的孤兒。
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, yea, that had none to help him.
13 那受喪亡之痛的人稱謝我，我使寡婦的心歡樂。
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and the heart of the widow I caused to 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。
I took righteousness as my garment, and it clothed me: as a robe and a mitre was justice unto me.
15 我作了盲人的眼，跛者的腳。
Eyes was I to the blind; and feet to the lame was I.
16 我成了窮人之父，我調查過素不相識者的案件。
A father was I to the needy; and the cause of him I knew not I used to investigate.
17 我打碎惡人的燎牙，由他牙齒中奪出了獵物。
And I broke the cutting-teeth of the wrong-doer, and out of his teeth I cast down his prey.
18 我心想：我必壽終正寢，我的壽數必如塵沙。
And I said then, “In the midst of my nest shall I depart hence, and like the sand shall I have many days.
19 我的根蔓延到水邊，夜間甘露落在我的枝葉上。
My root will stand open for the water, and the dew will lodge on my boughs.
20 我的榮耀不斷更新，我手中的弓日新月異。
My glory will ever be new with me, and my bow will acquire fresh strength in my hand.”
21 聽我講話的人，屏息等待，靜聽我的指教。
Unto me men listened, and waited, and watched in silence for my counsel
22 我講話之後，無人再敢講話，我的話像水珠滴在他們身上。
After my words they made no reply, and my speech dropped on them [like dew].
23 他們期待我如望甘霖，張著大口如渴盼春雨。
And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened wide their mouth as for the latter 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。
I smiled on those that had lost their confidence; and the light of my countenance they never cast down.
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 chose their way for them, and I sat as chief, and dwelt as king in his army, as one that comforteth mourners.
