איוב 29
| ויסף איוב שאת משלו ויאמר | 1 |
And Job again took up his measure, and said,
| מי-יתנני כירחי-קדם כימי אלוה ישמרני | 2 |
Oh that it were with me as in the months of old, as in the days, when, GOD, used to watch over me;
| בהלו נרו עלי ראשי לאורו אלך חשך | 3 |
When his lamp shone over my head, by whose light, I could go through darkness;
| כאשר הייתי בימי חרפי בסוד אלוה עלי אהלי | 4 |
As I was, in the days of my prime, when, the intimacy of GOD, was over my tent;
| בעוד שדי עמדי סביבותי נערי | 5 |
While yet the Almighty was with me, round about me, were my young men;
| ברחץ הליכי בחמה וצור יצוק עמדי פלגי-שמן | 6 |
When my steps were bathed in milk, and, the rock, poured out beside me, rivulets of oil:
| בצאתי שער עלי-קרת ברחוב אכין מושבי | 7 |
When I went out to the gate unto the city, in the open place, made ready my seat,
| ראוני נערים ונחבאו וישישים קמו עמדו | 8 |
Young men saw me, and hid themselves, and, the aged, arose—they stood;
| שרים עצרו במלים וכף ישימו לפיהם | 9 |
Rulers, restrained speech, and, a hand, laid they on their mouth;
| קול-נגידים נחבאו ולשונם לחכם דבקה | 10 |
The voice of nobles, was hushed, and their tongue to their palate, did cleave;
| כי אזן שמעה ותאשרני ועין ראתה ותעידני | 11 |
When, the ear, heard, then it pronounced me happy, When, the eye, saw, then it bare me witness;
| כי-אמלט עני משוע ויתום ולא-עזר לו | 12 |
Because I used to deliver the oppressed who was crying out for aid, the fatherless also, and him that had no helper;
| ברכת אבד עלי תבא ולב אלמנה ארנן | 13 |
The blessing of him that was ready to perish, upon me was wont to descend, and, the heart of the widow, caused I to sing for joy;
| צדק לבשתי וילבשני כמעיל וצניף משפטי | 14 |
Righteousness, I put on, and it clothed me, Like a robe and turban, was my, justice;
| עינים הייתי לעור ורגלים לפסח אני | 15 |
Eyes, became I to the, blind, and, feet to the lame, was, I!
| אב אנכי לאביונים ורב לא-ידעתי אחקרהו | 16 |
A father, was, I, to the needy, and, as for the cause which I knew not, I used to search it out;
| ואשברה מתלעות עול ומשניו אשליך טרף | 17 |
And I shivered the fangs of the perverse, —and, out of his teeth, I tare the prey.
| ואמר עם-קני אגוע וכחול ארבה ימים | 18 |
Then said I, Like a stem, shall I grow old, yea, as the sand, shall I multiply days:
| שרשי פתוח אלי-מים וטל ילין בקצירי | 19 |
My root, is laid open to the waters, and, the dew, shall lodge for the night in my boughs;
| כבודי חדש עמדי וקשתי בידי תחליף | 20 |
Mine honour, shall be young again with me, and, my bow, in my hand, be renewed.
| לי-שמעו ויחלו וידמו למו עצתי | 21 |
To me, men hearkened, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel;
| אחרי דברי לא ישנו ועלימו תטף מלתי | 22 |
After I had spoken, they spake not again, and, upon them, used my speech to drop;
| ויחלו כמטר לי ופיהם פערו למלקוש | 23 |
And they waited, as for rain, for me, and, their mouths, they opened wide for the spring-rain;
| אשחק אלהם לא יאמינו ואור פני לא יפילון | 24 |
I laughed at them—they lost confidence, and, the light of my countenance, they suffered not to fail;
| אבחר דרכם ואשב ראש ואשכון כמלך בגדוד כאשר אבלים ינחם | 25 |
I chose out their way, and sat chief, —and abode, as king, in an army, as one who, to mourners, giveth comfort.
