Job 29
1 Job resumed speaking and said,
Då heldt Job fram med talen sin og sagde:
2 “Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
«Å, var eg som i fordums måna’r, som den gong Gud mi verja var,
3 when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
då yver meg hans lampa skein, som lyste meg i myrkret fram,
4 Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on my tent,
slik som eg var i mogne manndom, då Gud var ven i huset mitt,
5 when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
då Allvald endå med meg var, og mine born eg kring meg såg,
6 when my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
då eg i fløyte foten tvådde, og olje rann av fjellet nær meg,
7 When I went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,
då eg til porten steig i byen, og sessen min på torget tok!
8 the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.
Ungdomen såg meg, løynde seg; dei gamle reiste seg og stod;
9 The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
hovdingar stogga midt i talen og lagde handi på sin munn;
10 The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.
og røysti tagna hjå dei gjæve, og tunga seg til gomen kleimde;
11 For after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of me
dei som meg høyrde, sælka meg, og dei som såg meg, vitna for meg.
12 because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, and the one who had no father when he had no one to help him.
Eg berga arming når han ropa, og farlaus som var utan hjelp;
13 The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
velsigning fekk eg frå forkomne, og enkjor fekk eg til å jubla.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
Rettferd var min, eg hennar bunad; rett var mi kappa og mi kruna.
15 I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
Eg for den blinde auga var, og føter var eg for den halte.
16 I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
Ein far eg var for fatigfolk; eg for ukjende saki granska.
17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.
På brotsmann tennerne eg knekte, reiv fengdi utor gapet hans.
18 Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
Eg sagde: «I reiret skal eg døy, med dagar talrike som sand.
19 My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
Til roti mi skal vatnet trengja, dogg bu ved natt på greini mi;
20 The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'
mi æra held seg frisk hjå meg, bogen vert ny handi mi.»
21 To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
Dei høyrde ventande på meg, og lydde stilt på rådi mi.
22 After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
Og ikkje la dei mot mitt ord, min tale draup ned yver deim.
23 They always waited for me as they waited for rain; they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, as they would do for the latter rain.
På meg dei bia som på regn, ja, som vårregn opna munnen.
24 I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.
Eg smilte til mismodige, mitt andlit fekk dei ikkje myrkt.
25 I selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.
Når eg deim vitja, sat eg fremst, sat som ein konge i sin herflokk, lik ein som trøystar syrgjande.
