Job 29
1 And Job again took up the word and said,
約伯繼續他的言論說：
2 If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!
誰能賜我似以前的歲月，像以往天主護守我的時日呢﹖
3 When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
那時他的燈，光照在我頭上，藉他的光明，我走過黑暗。
4 As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
惟願我如壯年之時，那時天主護佑我的帳幕；
5 While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
全能者與我相偕，我的子女環繞著我；
6 When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
那時我以奶油洗腳，崖石流油成河。
7 When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
當我走出城門，在市井設我座位之時，
8 The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
少年人看見我都迴避，老年人都起身站立；
9 The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
王侯停止講話，用手堵住自己的口；
10 The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
首領不敢出聲，舌頭緊貼上顎。
11 For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
凡有耳聽見我的，必稱我有福；凡有眼看見我的，都必稱讚我。
12 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.
因為我援助了呼救的窮人，和無依無靠的孤兒。
13 The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
那受喪亡之痛的人稱謝我，我使寡婦的心歡樂。
14 I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
我披上正義，正義就如我衣；我的公正，猶如我的長袍和冠冕。
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
我作了盲人的眼，跛者的腳。
16 I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
我成了窮人之父，我調查過素不相識者的案件。
17 By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
我打碎惡人的燎牙，由他牙齒中奪出了獵物。
18 Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
我心想：我必壽終正寢，我的壽數必如塵沙。
19 My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
我的根蔓延到水邊，夜間甘露落在我的枝葉上。
20 My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
我的榮耀不斷更新，我手中的弓日新月異。
21 Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
聽我講話的人，屏息等待，靜聽我的指教。
22 After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
我講話之後，無人再敢講話，我的話像水珠滴在他們身上。
23 They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
他們期待我如望甘霖，張著大口如渴盼春雨。
24 I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
我向他們微笑，他們不敢相信；我和善的面容，他們必不放過。
25 I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
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。
