Job 29
1 And Job continued and said in his parable,
約伯繼續他的言論說：
2 Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!
誰能賜我似以前的歲月，像以往天主護守我的時日呢﹖
3 As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.
那時他的燈，光照在我頭上，藉他的光明，我走過黑暗。
4 [As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.
惟願我如壯年之時，那時天主護佑我的帳幕；
5 When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;
全能者與我相偕，我的子女環繞著我；
6 when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
那時我以奶油洗腳，崖石流油成河。
7 When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.
當我走出城門，在市井設我座位之時，
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.
少年人看見我都迴避，老年人都起身站立；
9 And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.
王侯停止講話，用手堵住自己的口；
10 And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.
首領不敢出聲，舌頭緊貼上顎。
11 For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.
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 saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.
因為我援助了呼救的窮人，和無依無靠的孤兒。
13 Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yes, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.
那受喪亡之痛的人稱謝我，我使寡婦的心歡樂。
14 Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgement like a mantle.
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 the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.
我作了盲人的眼，跛者的腳。
16 I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.
我成了窮人之父，我調查過素不相識者的案件。
17 And I broke the jaw teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.
我打碎惡人的燎牙，由他牙齒中奪出了獵物。
18 And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm tree; I shall live a long while.
我心想：我必壽終正寢，我的壽數必如塵沙。
19 [My] root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.
我的根蔓延到水邊，夜間甘露落在我的枝葉上。
20 My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand.
我的榮耀不斷更新，我手中的弓日新月異。
21 [Men] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.
聽我講話的人，屏息等待，靜聽我的指教。
22 At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them.
我講話之後，無人再敢講話，我的話像水珠滴在他們身上。
23 As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.
他們期待我如望甘霖，張著大口如渴盼春雨。
24 Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.
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 chose out their way, and sat chief, and lived as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.
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。
