Giobbe 29
1 Giobbe riprese il suo discorso e disse:
Job resumed speaking and said,
2 “Oh foss’io come ne’ mesi d’una volta, come ne’ giorni in cui Dio mi proteggeva,
“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
3 quando la sua lampada mi risplendeva sul capo, e alla sua luce io camminavo nelle tenebre!
when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
4 Oh fossi com’ero a’ giorni della mia maturità, quando Iddio vegliava amico sulla mia tenda,
Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on my tent,
5 quando l’Onnipotente stava ancora meco, e avevo i miei figliuoli d’intorno;
when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
6 quando mi lavavo i piedi nel latte e dalla roccia mi fluivano ruscelli d’olio!
when my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 Allorché uscivo per andare alla porta della città e mi facevo preparare il seggio sulla piazza,
When I went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,
8 i giovani, al vedermi, si ritiravano, i vecchi s’alzavano e rimanevano in piedi;
the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.
9 i maggiorenti cessavan di parlare e si mettevan la mano sulla bocca;
The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
10 la voce dei capi diventava muta, la lingua s’attaccava al loro palato.
The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.
11 L’orecchio che mi udiva, mi diceva beato; l’occhio che mi vedeva mi rendea testimonianza,
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
12 perché salvavo il misero che gridava aiuto, e l’orfano che non aveva chi lo soccorresse.
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.
13 Scendea su me la benedizione di chi stava per perire, e facevo esultare il cuor della vedova.
The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 La giustizia era il mio vestimento ed io il suo; la probità era come il mio mantello e il mio turbante.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 Ero l’occhio del cieco, il piede dello zoppo;
I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
16 ero il padre de’ poveri, e studiavo a fondo la causa dello sconosciuto.
I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
17 Spezzavo la ganascia all’iniquo, e gli facevo lasciar la preda che avea fra i denti.
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.
18 E dicevo: “Morrò nel mio nido, e moltiplicherò i miei giorni come la rena;
Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
19 le mie radici si stenderanno verso l’acque, la rugiada passerà la notte sui miei rami;
My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
20 la mia gloria sempre si rinnoverà, e l’arco rinverdirà nella mia mano”.
The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'
21 Gli astanti m’ascoltavano pieni d’aspettazione, si tacevan per udire il mio parere.
To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
22 Quand’avevo parlato, non replicavano; la mia parola scendeva su loro come una rugiada.
After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
23 E m’aspettavan come s’aspetta la pioggia; aprivan larga la bocca come a un acquazzone di primavera.
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.
24 Io sorridevo loro quand’erano sfiduciati; e non potevano oscurar la luce del mio volto.
I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.
25 Quando andavo da loro, mi sedevo come capo, ed ero come un re fra le sue schiere, come un consolatore in mezzo agli afflitti.
I selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.
