Jobs 29
1 Og Job blev ved å fremføre sin visdomstale og sa:
Job spoke again,
2 Å, om jeg hadde det som i fordums måneder, som i de dager da Gud vernet om mig,
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 da hans lampe skinte over mitt hode, da jeg ved hans lys vandret gjennem mørket,
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 slik som jeg hadde det i min modne manndoms dager, da Guds vennskap hvilte over mitt telt,
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 da den Allmektige ennu var med mig, og jeg hadde mine barn omkring mig,
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 da mine føtter badet sig i melk, og berget ved mitt hus lot bekker av olje strømme frem!
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 Når jeg gikk op til porten i byen og inntok mitt sete på torvet,
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 da drog de unge sig unda ved synet av mig, og de gråhårede reiste sig og blev stående;
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 høvdinger lot være å tale og la hånden på sin munn;
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 de fornemme tidde stille, og deres tunge blev hengende ved ganen.
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 Enhver som hørte om mig, priste mig lykkelig, og hver den som så mig, gav mig lovord.
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 For jeg berget armingen som ropte om hjelp, og den farløse som ingen hjelper hadde.
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 Den som var sin undergang nær, velsignet mig, og enkens hjerte fikk jeg til å juble.
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 Jeg klædde mig i rettferdighet, og den opslo sin bolig i mig; rettsinn bar jeg som kappe og hue.
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 Øine var jeg for den blinde, og føtter var jeg for den halte.
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 En far var jeg for de fattige, og ukjente folks sak gransket jeg.
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 Jeg knuste den urettferdiges kjever og rev byttet bort fra hans tenner.
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 Jeg tenkte da: I mitt rede skal jeg få dø, og mine dager skal bli tallrike som 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 Min rot skal ligge åpen for vann, og nattens dugg skal falle på mine grener.
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 Min ære blir alltid ny, og min bue forynges i min hånd.
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 Mig hørte de på, de ventet og lyttet i taushet til mitt råd.
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 Når jeg hadde talt, tok de ikke til orde igjen, og min tale dryppet ned over dem.
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 De ventet på min tale som på regn, de åpnet sin munn som for vårregn.
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 Når de var motløse, smilte jeg til dem, og mitt åsyns lys kunde de ikke formørke.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 Fikk jeg lyst til å gå til dem, da satt jeg der som høvding og tronte som en konge i sin krigerskare, lik en som trøster de sørgende.
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.”
