< Job 29 >
1 Und Hiob hob abermals an seine Sprüche und sprach:
Job spoke again,
2 O daß ich wäre wie in den vorigen Monden, in den Tagen, da mich Gott behütete;
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 da seine Leuchte über meinem Haupt schien und ich bei seinem Licht in der Finsternis ging;
During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
4 wie war ich in der Reife meines Lebens, da Gottes Geheimnis über meiner Hütte war;
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 da der Allmächtige noch mit mir war und meine Kinder um mich her;
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 da ich meine Tritte wusch in Butter und die Felsen mir Ölbäche gossen;
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 da ich ausging zum Tor in der Stadt und mir ließ meinen Stuhl auf der Gasse bereiten;
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 da mich die Jungen sahen und sich versteckten, und die Alten vor mir aufstanden;
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 da die Obersten aufhörten zu reden und legten ihre Hand auf ihren Mund;
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 da die Stimme der Fürsten sich verkroch und ihre Zunge am Gaumen klebte!
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 Denn wessen Ohr mich hörte, der pries mich selig; und wessen Auge mich sah, der rühmte mich.
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,
12 Denn ich errettete den Armen, der da schrie, und den Waisen, der keinen Helfer hatte.
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.
13 Der Segen des, der verderben sollte, kam über mich; und ich erfreute das Herz der Witwe.
Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
14 Gerechtigkeit war mein Kleid, das ich anzog wie einen Rock; und mein Recht war mein fürstlicher Hut.
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].
15 Ich war des Blinden Auge und des Lahmen Fuß.
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 Ich war ein Vater der Armen; und die Sache des, den ich nicht kannte, die erforschte ich.
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 Ich zerbrach die Backenzähne des Ungerechten und riß den Raub aus seinen Zähnen.
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.
18 Ich gedachte: “Ich will in meinem Nest ersterben und meiner Tage viel machen wie Sand.”
“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].’
19 Meine Wurzel war aufgetan dem Wasser, und der Tau blieb über meinen Zweigen.
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 Meine Herrlichkeit erneute sich immer an mir, und mein Bogen ward immer stärker in meiner Hand.
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 Sie hörten mir zu und schwiegen und warteten auf meinen Rat.
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 Nach meinen Worten redete niemand mehr, und meine Rede troff auf sie.
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].
23 Sie warteten auf mich wie auf den Regen und sperrten ihren Mund auf als nach dem Spätregen.
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].
24 Wenn ich mit ihnen lachte, wurden sie nicht zu kühn darauf; und das Licht meines Angesichts machte mich nicht geringer.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 Wenn ich zu ihrem Geschäft wollte kommen, so mußte ich obenan sitzen und wohnte wie ein König unter Kriegsknechten, da ich tröstete, die Leid trugen.
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.”