< Job 29 >
1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
Ayub melanjutkan uraiannya, katanya,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
"Kiranya hidupku dapat lagi seperti dahulu, waktu Allah melindungi aku.
3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
Aku selalu diberi-Nya pertolongan, diterangi-Nya waktu berjalan dalam kegelapan.
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
Itulah hari-hari kejayaanku, ketika keakraban Allah menaungi rumahku.
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
Waktu itu, Yang Mahakuasa masih mendampingi aku, dan anak-anakku ada di sekelilingku.
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
Ternakku menghasilkan banyak sekali susu. Banyak minyak dihasilkan oleh pohon-pohon zaitunku, meskipun ditanam di tanah berbatu.
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
Jika para tua-tua kota duduk bersama, dan kuambil tempatku di antara mereka,
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
minggirlah orang-orang muda, segera setelah aku dilihat mereka. Juga orang-orang tua bangkit dengan khidmat; untuk memberi hormat.
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
Bahkan para pembesar berhenti berkata-kata,
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
dan orang penting pun tidak berbicara.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
Siapa pun kagum jika mendengar tentang aku; siapa yang melihat aku, memuji jasaku.
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
Sebab, kutolong orang miskin yang minta bantuan; kusokong yatim piatu yang tak punya penunjang.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
Aku dipuji oleh orang yang sangat kesusahan, kutolong para janda sehingga mereka tentram.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
Tindakanku jujur tanpa cela; kutegakkan keadilan senantiasa.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
Bagi orang buta, aku menjadi mata; bagi orang lumpuh, aku adalah kakinya.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
Bagi orang miskin, aku menjadi ayah; bagi orang asing, aku menjadi pembela.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Tapi kuasa orang kejam, kupatahkan, dan kurban mereka kuselamatkan.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
Harapanku ialah mencapai umur yang tinggi, dan mati dengan tenang di rumahku sendiri.
19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
Aku seperti pohon yang subur tumbuhnya, akarnya cukup air dan embun membasahi dahannya.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
Aku selalu dipuji semua orang, dan tak pernah kekuatanku berkurang.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
Orang-orang diam, jika aku memberi nasihat; segala perkataanku mereka dengarkan dengan cermat.
22 After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
Sehabis aku bicara, tak ada lagi yang perlu ditambahkan; perkataan meresap seperti tetesan air hujan.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Semua orang menyambut kata-kataku dengan gembira, seperti petani menyambut hujan di musim bunga.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Kutersenyum kepada mereka ketika mereka putus asa; air mukaku yang bahagia menambah semangat mereka.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforts the mourners.
Akulah yang memegang pimpinan, dan mengambil segala keputusan. Kupimpin mereka seperti raja di tengah pasukannya, dan kuhibur mereka dalam kesedihannya.