Job 29
1 And Job again took up the word and said,
Og Job blev ved å fremføre sin visdomstale og sa:
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!
Å, om jeg hadde det som i fordums måneder, som i de dager da Gud vernet om mig,
3 When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
da hans lampe skinte over mitt hode, da jeg ved hans lys vandret gjennem mørket,
4 As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
slik som jeg hadde det i min modne manndoms dager, da Guds vennskap hvilte over mitt telt,
5 While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
da den Allmektige ennu var med mig, og jeg hadde mine barn omkring mig,
6 When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
da mine føtter badet sig i melk, og berget ved mitt hus lot bekker av olje strømme frem!
7 When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
Når jeg gikk op til porten i byen og inntok mitt sete på torvet,
8 The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
da drog de unge sig unda ved synet av mig, og de gråhårede reiste sig og blev stående;
9 The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
høvdinger lot være å tale og la hånden på sin munn;
10 The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
de fornemme tidde stille, og deres tunge blev hengende ved ganen.
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;
Enhver som hørte om mig, priste mig lykkelig, og hver den som så mig, gav mig lovord.
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.
For jeg berget armingen som ropte om hjelp, og den farløse som ingen hjelper hadde.
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.
Den som var sin undergang nær, velsignet mig, og enkens hjerte fikk jeg til å juble.
14 I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
Jeg klædde mig i rettferdighet, og den opslo sin bolig i mig; rettsinn bar jeg som kappe og hue.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
Øine var jeg for den blinde, og føtter var jeg for den halte.
16 I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
En far var jeg for de fattige, og ukjente folks sak gransket jeg.
17 By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
Jeg knuste den urettferdiges kjever og rev byttet bort fra hans tenner.
18 Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
Jeg tenkte da: I mitt rede skal jeg få dø, og mine dager skal bli tallrike som sand.
19 My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
Min rot skal ligge åpen for vann, og nattens dugg skal falle på mine grener.
20 My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
Min ære blir alltid ny, og min bue forynges i min hånd.
21 Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
Mig hørte de på, de ventet og lyttet i taushet til mitt råd.
22 After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
Når jeg hadde talt, tok de ikke til orde igjen, og min tale dryppet ned over dem.
23 They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
De ventet på min tale som på regn, de åpnet sin munn som for vårregn.
24 I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
Når de var motløse, smilte jeg til dem, og mitt åsyns lys kunde de ikke formørke.
25 I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
Fikk jeg lyst til å gå til dem, da satt jeg der som høvding og tronte som en konge i sin krigerskare, lik en som trøster de sørgende.
