Job 29
1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
| ויסף איוב שאת משלו ויאמר |
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
| מי-יתנני כירחי-קדם כימי אלוה ישמרני |
3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
| בהלו נרו עלי ראשי לאורו אלך חשך |
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the friendship and counsel of God was upon my tabernacle;
| כאשר הייתי בימי חרפי בסוד אלוה עלי אהלי |
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
| בעוד שדי עמדי סביבותי נערי |
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
| ברחץ הליכי בחמה וצור יצוק עמדי פלגי-שמן |
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
| בצאתי שער עלי-קרת ברחוב אכין מושבי |
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
| ראוני נערים ונחבאו וישישים קמו עמדו |
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
| שרים עצרו במלים וכף ישימו לפיהם |
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
| קול-נגידים נחבאו ולשונם לחכם דבקה |
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
| כי אזן שמעה ותאשרני ועין ראתה ותעידני |
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
| כי-אמלט עני משוע ויתום ולא-עזר לו |
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
| ברכת אבד עלי תבא ולב אלמנה ארנן |
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
| צדק לבשתי וילבשני כמעיל וצניף משפטי |
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
| עינים הייתי לעור ורגלים לפסח אני |
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
| אב אנכי לאביונים ורב לא-ידעתי אחקרהו |
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
| ואשברה מתלעות עול ומשניו אשליך טרף |
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
| ואמר עם-קני אגוע וכחול ארבה ימים |
19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
| שרשי פתוח אלי-מים וטל ילין בקצירי |
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
| כבודי חדש עמדי וקשתי בידי תחליף |
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
| לי-שמעו ויחלו וידמו למו עצתי |
22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
| אחרי דברי לא ישנו ועלימו תטף מלתי |
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
| ויחלו כמטר לי ופיהם פערו למלקוש |
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
| אשחק אלהם לא יאמינו ואור פני לא יפילון |
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king among his troops, as one that comforteth the mourners.
| אבחר דרכם ואשב ראש ואשכון כמלך בגדוד כאשר אבלים ינחם |
