Job 29

1 And Job continued his discourse:

1 約伯又接着說：

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

2 惟願我的景況如從前的月份， 如上帝保守我的日子。

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

3 那時他的燈照在我頭上； 我藉他的光行過黑暗。

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

4 我願如壯年的時候： 那時我在帳棚中， 上帝待我有密友之情；

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

5 全能者仍與我同在； 我的兒女都環繞我。

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

6 奶多可洗我的腳； 磐石為我出油成河。

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

7 我出到城門， 在街上設立座位；

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

8 少年人見我而迴避， 老年人也起身站立；

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

9 王子都停止說話， 用手摀口；

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

10 首領靜默無聲， 舌頭貼住上膛。

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

11 耳朵聽我的，就稱我有福； 眼睛看我的，便稱讚我；

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

12 因我拯救哀求的困苦人 和無人幫助的孤兒。

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

13 將要滅亡的為我祝福； 我也使寡婦心中歡樂。

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

14 我以公義為衣服， 以公平為外袍和冠冕。

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

15 我為瞎子的眼， 瘸子的腳。

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

16 我為窮乏人的父； 素不認識的人，我查明他的案件。

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

17 我打破不義之人的牙床， 從他牙齒中奪了所搶的。

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

18 我便說：我必死在家中 ， 必增添我的日子，多如塵沙。

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

19 我的根長到水邊； 露水終夜霑在我的枝上。

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

20 我的榮耀在身上增新； 我的弓在手中日強。

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

21 人聽見我而仰望， 靜默等候我的指教。

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

22 我說話之後，他們就不再說； 我的言語像雨露滴在他們身上。

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

23 他們仰望我如仰望雨， 又張開口如切慕春雨。

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

24 他們不敢自信，我就向他們含笑； 他們不使我臉上的光改變。

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 我為他們選擇道路，又坐首位； 我如君王在軍隊中居住， 又如弔喪的安慰傷心的人。