Job 29
1 And Job again took up his measure, and said,
| ויסף איוב שאת משלו ויאמר׃ |
2 Oh that it were with me as in the months of old, as in the days, when, GOD, used to watch over me;
| מי יתנני כירחי קדם כימי אלוה ישמרני׃ |
3 When his lamp shone over my head, by whose light, I could go through darkness;
| בהלו נרו עלי ראשי לאורו אלך חשך׃ |
4 As I was, in the days of my prime, when, the intimacy of GOD, was over my tent;
| כאשר הייתי בימי חרפי בסוד אלוה עלי אהלי׃ |
5 While yet the Almighty was with me, round about me, were my young men;
| בעוד שדי עמדי סביבותי נערי׃ |
6 When my steps were bathed in milk, and, the rock, poured out beside me, rivulets of oil:
| ברחץ הליכי בחמה וצור יצוק עמדי פלגי שמן׃ |
7 When I went out to the gate unto the city, in the open place, made ready my seat,
| בצאתי שער עלי קרת ברחוב אכין מושבי׃ |
8 Young men saw me, and hid themselves, and, the aged, arose—they stood;
| ראוני נערים ונחבאו וישישים קמו עמדו׃ |
9 Rulers, restrained speech, and, a hand, laid they on their mouth;
| שרים עצרו במלים וכף ישימו לפיהם׃ |
10 The voice of nobles, was hushed, and their tongue to their palate, did cleave;
| קול נגידים נחבאו ולשונם לחכם דבקה׃ |
11 When, the ear, heard, then it pronounced me happy, When, the eye, saw, then it bare me witness;
| כי אזן שמעה ותאשרני ועין ראתה ותעידני׃ |
12 Because I used to deliver the oppressed who was crying out for aid, the fatherless also, and him that had no helper;
| כי אמלט עני משוע ויתום ולא עזר לו׃ |
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish, upon me was wont to descend, and, the heart of the widow, caused I to sing for joy;
| ברכת אבד עלי תבא ולב אלמנה ארנן׃ |
14 Righteousness, I put on, and it clothed me, Like a robe and turban, was my, justice;
| צדק לבשתי וילבשני כמעיל וצניף משפטי׃ |
15 Eyes, became I to the, blind, and, feet to the lame, was, I!
| עינים הייתי לעור ורגלים לפסח אני׃ |
16 A father, was, I, to the needy, and, as for the cause which I knew not, I used to search it out;
| אב אנכי לאביונים ורב לא ידעתי אחקרהו׃ |
17 And I shivered the fangs of the perverse, —and, out of his teeth, I tare the prey.
| ואשברה מתלעות עול ומשניו אשליך טרף׃ |
18 Then said I, Like a stem, shall I grow old, yea, as the sand, shall I multiply days:
| ואמר עם קני אגוע וכחול ארבה ימים׃ |
19 My root, is laid open to the waters, and, the dew, shall lodge for the night in my boughs;
| שרשי פתוח אלי מים וטל ילין בקצירי׃ |
20 Mine honour, shall be young again with me, and, my bow, in my hand, be renewed.
| כבודי חדש עמדי וקשתי בידי תחליף׃ |
21 To me, men hearkened, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel;
| לי שמעו ויחלו וידמו למו עצתי׃ |
22 After I had spoken, they spake not again, and, upon them, used my speech to drop;
| אחרי דברי לא ישנו ועלימו תטף מלתי׃ |
23 And they waited, as for rain, for me, and, their mouths, they opened wide for the spring-rain;
| ויחלו כמטר לי ופיהם פערו למלקוש׃ |
24 I laughed at them—they lost confidence, and, the light of my countenance, they suffered not to fail;
| אשחק אלהם לא יאמינו ואור פני לא יפילון׃ |
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, —and abode, as king, in an army, as one who, to mourners, giveth comfort.
| אבחר דרכם ואשב ראש ואשכון כמלך בגדוד כאשר אבלים ינחם׃ |
