Job 29
1 Job spoke again,
Åter hov Job upp sin röst och kvad:
2 “I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
Ack att jag vore såsom i forna månader, såsom i de dagar då Gud gav mig sitt beskydd,
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.
då hans lykta sken över mitt huvud och jag vid hans ljus gick fram genom mörkret!
4 At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
Ja, vore jag såsom i min mognads dagar, då Guds huldhet vilade över min hydda,
5 Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
då ännu den Allsmäktige var med mig och mina barn stodo runt omkring mig,
6 [My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
då mina fötter badade i gräddmjölk och klippan invid mig göt ut bäckar av olja!
7 “Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
När jag då gick upp till porten i staden och intog mitt säte på torget,
8 and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
då drogo de unga sig undan vid min åsyn, de gamla reste sig upp och blevo stående.
9 The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
Då höllo hövdingar tillbaka sina ord och lade handen på munnen;
10 and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
furstarnas röst ljöd då dämpad, och deras tunga lådde vid gommen.
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,
Ja, vart öra som hörde prisade mig då säll, och vart öga som såg bar vittnesbörd om mig;
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.
ty jag räddade den betryckte som ropade, och den faderlöse, den som ingen hjälpare hade.
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 olyckliges välsignelse kom då över mig, och änkans hjärta uppfyllde jag med jubel.
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].
I rättfärdighet klädde jag mig, och den var såsom min klädnad; rättvisa bar jag såsom mantel och huvudbindel.
15 [It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
Ögon blev jag då åt den blinde, och fötter var jag åt den halte.
16 I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
Jag var då en fader för de fattiga, och den okändes sak redde jag ut.
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.
Jag krossade den orättfärdiges käkar och ryckte rovet undan hans tänder.
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].’
Jag tänkte då: "I mitt näste skall jag få dö, mina dagar skola bliva många såsom sanden.
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 ligger ju öppen för vatten, och i min krona faller nattens dagg.
20 People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
Min ära bliver ständigt ny, och min båge föryngras i min hand."
21 “When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
Ja, på mig hörde man då och väntade, man lyssnade under tystnad på 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].
Sedan jag hade talat, talade ingen annan; såsom ett vederkvickande flöde kommo mina ord över 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 väntade på mig såsom på regn, de spärrade upp sina munnar såsom efter vårregn.
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
När de misströstade, log jag emot dem, och mitt ansiktes klarhet kunde de icke förmörka.
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.”
Täcktes jag besöka dem, så måste jag sitta främst; jag tronade då såsom en konung i sin skara, lik en man som har tröst för de sörjande.
