Job 29
1 Job spoke again,
Giobbe riprese il suo discorso e disse:
2 “I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
“Oh foss’io come ne’ mesi d’una volta, come ne’ giorni in cui Dio mi proteggeva,
3 During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
quando la sua lampada mi risplendeva sul capo, e alla sua luce io camminavo nelle tenebre!
4 At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
Oh fossi com’ero a’ giorni della mia maturità, quando Iddio vegliava amico sulla mia tenda,
5 Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
quando l’Onnipotente stava ancora meco, e avevo i miei figliuoli d’intorno;
6 [My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
quando mi lavavo i piedi nel latte e dalla roccia mi fluivano ruscelli d’olio!
7 “Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
Allorché uscivo per andare alla porta della città e mi facevo preparare il seggio sulla piazza,
8 and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
i giovani, al vedermi, si ritiravano, i vecchi s’alzavano e rimanevano in piedi;
9 The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
i maggiorenti cessavan di parlare e si mettevan la mano sulla bocca;
10 and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
la voce dei capi diventava muta, la lingua s’attaccava al loro palato.
11 When they [SYN] all heard [what I told them], they said good things about me. When they [SYN] saw me (OR, what I had done), they commended me,
L’orecchio che mi udiva, mi diceva beato; l’occhio che mi vedeva mi rendea testimonianza,
12 because I had helped the poor people when they cried out for help and I aided/helped orphans who had no one else to help them.
perché salvavo il misero che gridava aiuto, e l’orfano che non aveva chi lo soccorresse.
13 Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
Scendea su me la benedizione di chi stava per perire, e facevo esultare il cuor della vedova.
14 I always acted justly; my continually doing that was like [MET] a robe that I wore and a turban [that was wrapped around my head].
La giustizia era il mio vestimento ed io il suo; la probità era come il mio mantello e il mio turbante.
15 [It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
Ero l’occhio del cieco, il piede dello zoppo;
16 I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
ero il padre de’ poveri, e studiavo a fondo la causa dello sconosciuto.
17 My causing wicked people [to be unable to continue oppressing others was like] [MET] breaking the fangs [of fierce wild animals] and forcing them to drop from their teeth/mouths the animals that they had caught/seized.
Spezzavo la ganascia all’iniquo, e gli facevo lasciar la preda che avea fra i denti.
18 “At that time I thought, ‘Surely I will live securely, until I am very old [SIM], and I will die at home [with my family].’
E dicevo: “Morrò nel mio nido, e moltiplicherò i miei giorni come la rena;
19 I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
le mie radici si stenderanno verso l’acque, la rugiada passerà la notte sui miei rami;
20 People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
la mia gloria sempre si rinnoverà, e l’arco rinverdirà nella mia mano”.
21 “When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
Gli astanti m’ascoltavano pieni d’aspettazione, si tacevan per udire il mio parere.
22 After I finished speaking, they did not say any more; [it was as though] [MET] my words fell on their ears [like refreshing drops of rain].
Quand’avevo parlato, non replicavano; la mia parola scendeva su loro come una rugiada.
23 They waited for me [to speak] like they wait for rain; they [appreciated what I said] like [MET] [farmers appreciate] the final rain in the spring [before the dry season].
E m’aspettavan come s’aspetta la pioggia; aprivan larga la bocca come a un acquazzone di primavera.
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
Io sorridevo loro quand’erano sfiduciati; e non potevano oscurar la luce del mio volto.
25 I was their leader, and I decided what things [would be good for them to do]; I was among them like [SIM] a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts [others] who are mourning.”
Quando andavo da loro, mi sedevo come capo, ed ero come un re fra le sue schiere, come un consolatore in mezzo agli afflitti.
