ਅੱਯੂਬ 29
Job spoke again,
2 ੨ “ਕਾਸ਼ ਕਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਹਾਲਾਤ ਪ੍ਰਾਚੀਨ ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਜਿਹੇ ਹੁੰਦੇ, ਜਿਵੇਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਿਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਦ ਪਰਮੇਸ਼ੁਰ ਮੇਰੀ ਪਾਲਣਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਸੀ,
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 ੧੧ ਜੋ ਕੋਈ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸੁਣਦਾ ਤਾਂ ਉਹ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਧੰਨ ਆਖਦਾ ਸੀ, ਅਤੇ ਜਦ ਕੋਈ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਵੇਖਦਾ ਤਦ ਮੇਰੇ ਵਿਖੇ ਉਹ ਸਾਖੀ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਸੀ,
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 ੧੨ ਕਿਉਂ ਜੋ ਮੈਂ ਮਸਕੀਨ ਨੂੰ ਛੁਡਾਉਂਦਾ ਸੀ ਜਦੋਂ ਉਹ ਦੁਹਾਈ ਦਿੰਦਾ, ਅਤੇ ਯਤੀਮ ਨੂੰ ਜਦੋਂ ਉਹ ਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਸਹਾਇਕ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ।
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.
Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
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].
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
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.
“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].’
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 ੨੨ ਮੇਰੇ ਬੋਲਣ ਦੇ ਮਗਰੋਂ ਉਹ ਫੇਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਬੋਲਦੇ ਸਨ, ਅਤੇ ਮੇਰੀਆਂ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਉੱਤੇ ਮੀਂਹ ਦੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਰ੍ਹਦੀਆਂ ਸਨ।
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].
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 ੨੪ ਜਦ ਉਹ ਬੇਆਸ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਤਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੁਸਕਰਾ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਨ ਕਰਦਾ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਦਾ ਚਾਨਣ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਬਹੁਮੁੱਲਾ ਸੀ।
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 ੨੫ ਮੈਂ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਰਾਹ ਚੁਣਦਾ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਪਰਮੁੱਖ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਬਹਿੰਦਾ ਸੀ, ਅਤੇ ਅਜਿਹਾ ਵੱਸਦਾ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਫੌਜ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਾਜਾ, ਉਸ ਵਾਂਗੂੰ ਜਿਹੜਾ ਸੋਗੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਤਸੱਲੀ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।”
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.”
