Књига о Јову 29
1 Још настави Јов беседу своју и рече:
Job went on speaking.
2 О да бих био као пређашњих месеца, као оних дана кад ме Бог чуваше,
“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
3 Кад светљаше свећом својом над главом мојом, и при виделу Његовом хођах по мраку,
His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
4 Како бејах за младости своје, кад тајна Божија беше у шатору мом,
When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
5 Кад још беше Свемогући са мном, и деца моја око мене,
The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
6 Кад се траг мој обливаше маслом, и стена ми точаше уље потоцима,
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
7 Кад излажах на врата кроз град, и на улици намештах себи столицу:
I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
8 Младићи видећи ме уклањаху се, а старци устајаху и стајаху,
The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
9 Кнезови престајаху говорити и метаху руку на уста своја,
The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 Управитељи устезаху глас свој и језик им пријањаше за грло.
The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
11 Јер које ме ухо чујаше, називаше ме блаженим; и које ме око виђаше, сведочаше ми
Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
12 Да избављам сиромаха који виче, и сироту и који нема никог да му помогне;
because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 Благослов оног који пропадаше долажаше на ме, и удовици срце распевах;
Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
14 У правду се облачих и она ми беше одело, као плашт и као венац беше ми суд мој.
Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
15 Око бејах слепом и нога хромом.
I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 Отац бејах убогима, и разбирах за распру за коју не знах.
I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
17 И разбијах кутњаке неправеднику, и из зуба му истрзах грабеж.
I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 Зато говорах: У свом ћу гнезду умрети, и биће ми дана као песка.
I thought I would die at home, after many years.
19 Корен мој пружаше се крај воде, роса биваше по сву ноћ на мојим гранама.
Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
20 Слава моја подмлађиваше се у мене, и лук мој у руци мојој понављаше се.
Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
21 Слушаху ме и чекаху, и ћутаху на мој савет.
People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
22 После мојих речи нико не проговараше, тако их натапаше беседа моја.
Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
23 Јер ме чекаху као дажд, и уста своја отвараху као на позни дажд.
They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
24 Кад бих се насмејао на њих, не вероваху, и сјајност лица мог не разгоњаху.
When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
25 Кад бих отишао к њима, седах у зачеље, и бејах као цар у војсци, кад теши жалосне.
I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
