Job 29

1 And Job continued his discourse:

1 约伯接着说：

2 “How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,

2 “但愿我回到从前的岁月， 回到上帝看顾我的日子。

3 when His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,

3 那时，祂的灯在我头上照耀， 祂的光伴我走过黑暗。

4 when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent,

4 那时，我身强力壮， 上帝是我家的密友；

5 when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,

5 全能者尚与我同在， 儿女围绕在我身旁；

6 when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

6 我用奶油洗脚， 磐石为我涌出油河。

7 When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,

7 “那时，我去城门口， 到广场就坐，

8 the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.

8 青年看见我便回避， 老人也起身肃立；

9 The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.

9 王侯都停止讲话， 用手掩口；

10 The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

10 权贵都静默无声， 舌头紧贴上膛。

11 For those who heard me called me blessed, and those who saw me commended me,

11 听见我的都祝福我， 看见我的都称赞我。

12 because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.

12 因为我拯救求助的穷人， 解救无人援助的孤儿。

13 The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

13 临终的人为我祝福， 我使寡妇心里欢唱。

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.

14 我以公义为衣穿在身上， 公正是我的外袍和头巾。

15 I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame.

15 我做盲人的眼、 瘸腿之人的脚；

16 I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.

16 我做穷人的父， 为陌生人申冤。

17 I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.

17 我打落恶人的毒牙， 从他们口中救出受害者。

18 So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.

18 “我想，‘我必在家中安然离世， 我的年日必多如尘沙。

19 My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.

19 我的根伸展到水边， 枝子整夜沐浴甘露。

20 My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’

20 我的尊荣永不褪色。 手中的弓常新不败。’

21 Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.

21 “人们期待聆听我的话， 默然等候我的指教。

22 After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.

22 我讲完后，无人再发言； 我的话滋润他们的心田。

23 They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.

23 他们盼我如盼甘霖， 张着口如慕春雨。

24 If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.

24 我的微笑令他们受宠若惊， 他们从不使我脸色不悦。

25 I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.

25 我为他们选择道路，并且做首领， 我就像住在军中的君王， 又如伤心之人的安慰者。