Job 29
1 Job spoke again,
Og Job blev ved å fremføre sin visdomstale og sa:
2 “I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
Å, om jeg hadde det som i fordums måneder, som i de dager da Gud vernet om mig,
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.
da hans lampe skinte over mitt hode, da jeg ved hans lys vandret gjennem mørket,
4 At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
slik som jeg hadde det i min modne manndoms dager, da Guds vennskap hvilte over mitt telt,
5 Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
da den Allmektige ennu var med mig, og jeg hadde mine barn omkring mig,
6 [My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
da mine føtter badet sig i melk, og berget ved mitt hus lot bekker av olje strømme frem!
7 “Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
Når jeg gikk op til porten i byen og inntok mitt sete på torvet,
8 and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
da drog de unge sig unda ved synet av mig, og de gråhårede reiste sig og blev stående;
9 The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
høvdinger lot være å tale og la hånden på sin munn;
10 and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
de fornemme tidde stille, og deres tunge blev hengende ved ganen.
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,
Enhver som hørte om mig, priste mig lykkelig, og hver den som så mig, gav mig lovord.
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.
For jeg berget armingen som ropte om hjelp, og den farløse som ingen hjelper hadde.
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].
Den som var sin undergang nær, velsignet mig, og enkens hjerte fikk jeg til å juble.
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].
Jeg klædde mig i rettferdighet, og den opslo sin bolig i mig; rettsinn bar jeg som kappe og hue.
15 [It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
Øine var jeg for den blinde, og føtter var jeg for den halte.
16 I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
En far var jeg for de fattige, og ukjente folks sak gransket jeg.
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.
Jeg knuste den urettferdiges kjever og rev byttet bort fra hans tenner.
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].’
Jeg tenkte da: I mitt rede skal jeg få dø, og mine dager skal bli tallrike som sand.
19 I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
Min rot skal ligge åpen for vann, og nattens dugg skal falle på mine grener.
20 People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
Min ære blir alltid ny, og min bue forynges i min hånd.
21 “When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
Mig hørte de på, de ventet og lyttet i taushet til mitt råd.
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].
Når jeg hadde talt, tok de ikke til orde igjen, og min tale dryppet ned over dem.
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].
De ventet på min tale som på regn, de åpnet sin munn som for vårregn.
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
Når de var motløse, smilte jeg til dem, og mitt åsyns lys kunde de ikke formørke.
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.”
Fikk jeg lyst til å gå til dem, da satt jeg der som høvding og tronte som en konge i sin krigerskare, lik en som trøster de sørgende.
