ヨブ 記 29
1 ヨブはまた言葉をついで言った、
Job spoke again,
2 「ああ過ぎた年月のようであったらよいのだが、神がわたしを守ってくださった日のようであったらよいのだが。
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 あの時には、彼のともしびがわたしの頭の上に輝き、彼の光によってわたしは暗やみを歩んだ。
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 わたしの盛んな時のようであったならよいのだが。あの時には、神の親しみがわたしの天幕の上にあった。
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 あの時には、全能者がなおわたしと共にいまし、わたしの子供たちもわたしの周囲にいた。
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 あの時、わたしの足跡は乳で洗われ、岩もわたしのために油の流れを注ぎだした。
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 あの時には、わたしは町の門に出て行き、わたしの座を広場に設けた。
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 若い者はわたしを見てしりぞき、老いた者は身をおこして立ち、
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 君たる者も物言うことをやめて、その口に手を当て、
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 尊い者も声をおさめて、その舌を上あごにつけた。
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 耳に聞いた者はわたしを祝福された者となし、目に見た者はこれをあかしした。
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 これは助けを求める貧しい者を救い、また、みなしごおよび助ける人のない者を救ったからである。
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 今にも滅びようとした者の祝福がわたしに来た。わたしはまたやもめの心をして喜び歌わせた。
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 わたしは正義を着、正義はわたしをおおった。わたしの公義は上着のごとく、また冠のようであった。
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 わたしは目しいの目となり、足なえの足となり、
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 貧しい者の父となり、知らない人の訴えの理由を調べてやった。
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 わたしはまた悪しき者のきばを折り、その歯の間から獲物を引き出した。
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 その時、わたしは言った、『わたしは自分の巣の中で死に、わたしの日は砂のように多くなるであろう。
“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 わたしの根は水のほとりにはびこり、露は夜もすがらわたしの枝におくであろう。
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 わたしの栄えはわたしと共に新しく、わたしの弓はわたしの手にいつも強い』と。
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 人々はわたしに聞いて待ち、黙して、わたしの教に従った。
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 わたしが言った後は彼らは再び言わなかった。わたしの言葉は彼らの上に雨のように降りそそいだ。
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 彼らは雨を待つように、わたしを待ち望み、春の雨を仰ぐように口を開いて仰いだ。
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 彼らが希望を失った時にも、わたしは彼らにむかってほほえんだ。彼らはわたしの顔の光を除くことができなかった。
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 わたしは彼らのために道を選び、そのかしらとして座し、軍中の王のようにしており、嘆く者を慰める人のようであった。
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.”
