Job 29
1 Och Job hof åter upp sitt ordspråk, och sade:
Job spoke again,
2 Ack! att jag vore såsom uti de förra månader, uti de dagar då Gud bevarade mig.
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 Då hans lykta sken öfver mitt hufvud, och jag i mörkrena gick vid hans ljus;
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 Såsom jag var i min ungdoms tid, då Guds hemlighet var öfver mina hyddo;
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 Då den Allsmägtige ännu med mig var, och mine tjenare allt omkring mig;
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 Då jag tvådde min väg uti smör, och hälleberget utgöt mig oljoflodar;
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 Då jag utgick till stadsporten, och lät bereda mig mitt säte på gatone;
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 Då mig ynglingar sågo, och undstungo sig, och de gamle uppstodo för mig;
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 Då de öfverste igen vände att tala, och lade sina hand på sin mun;
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 Då Förstarnas röst gömde sig undan, och deras tunga lådde vid deras gom.
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 Ty hvilkens öra mig hörde, den prisade mig saligan; och hvilkens öga mig såg, den vittnade om mig.
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 Förty jag halp den fattiga, som ropade, och den faderlösa, som ingen hjelpare hade.
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 Dens välsignelse, som förgås skulle, kom öfver mig; och jag tröstade enkones hjerta.
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 Rättfärdighet var min klädebonad, den iklädde jag såsom en kjortel; och min dom var min skrud.
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 Jag var dens blindas öga, och dens haltas fot.
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 Jag var de fattigas fader, och hvilken sak jag icke visste, den utfrågade jag.
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 Jag sönderslog dens orättfärdigas oxlatänder, och tog rofvet utu hans tänder.
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 Jag tänkte: Jag vill dö uti mitt näste, och göra mina dagar många såsom 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 säd gick upp af vätsko, och dagg blef öfver min årsväxt.
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 Min härlighet förnyade sig för mig, och min båge förvandlade sig i mine hand.
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 De hörde mig, och tigde; och vaktade uppå 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 Efter min ord talade ingen mer, och mitt tal dröp på 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 vaktade på mig såsom på regn, och uppgapade med munnen såsom efter aftonregn.
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 Om jag log till dem, förläto de sig intet deruppå; och torde intet bedröfva mig.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 När jag ville komma till deras handlingar, så måste jag sitta främst; och bodde såsom en Konung ibland krigsfolk, då jag hugsvalade dem som sorgfulle voro.
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.”
