回憶昔日的幸福
1約伯接著說：
2「但願我回到從前的歲月，
回到上帝看顧我的日子。
3那時，祂的燈在我頭上照耀，
祂的光伴我走過黑暗。
4那時，我身強力壯，
上帝是我家的密友；
5全能者尚與我同在，
兒女圍繞在我身旁；
6我用奶油洗腳，
磐石為我湧出橄欖油。
7「那時，我去城門口，
到廣場就坐，
8青年看見我便迴避，
老人也起身肅立；
9王侯都停止講話，
用手掩口；
10權貴都靜默無聲，
舌頭緊貼上膛。
11聽見我的都祝福我，
看見我的都稱讚我。
12因為我拯救求助的窮人，
解救無人援助的孤兒。
13臨終的人為我祝福，
我使寡婦心裡歡唱。
14我以公義為衣穿在身上，
公正是我的外袍和帽子。
15我做瞎子的眼、
瘸子的腳；
16我做窮人的父，
為陌生人伸冤。
17我打落惡人的毒牙，
從他們口中救出受害者。
18「我想，『我必在家中安然離世，
我的年日必多如塵沙。
19我的根伸展到水邊，
枝子整夜沐浴甘露。
20我的尊榮永不褪色。
手中的弓常新不敗。』
21「人們期待聆聽我的話，
默然等候我的教導。
22我講完後，無人再發言；
我的話滋潤他們的心田。
23他們盼我如盼甘霖，
張著口如慕春雨。
24我的微笑令他們受寵若驚，
他們從不使我臉色不悅。
25我為他們選擇道路，並且做首領，
我就像君王住在軍中，
又如傷心之人的安慰者。
1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,29.1 continued: Heb. added to take up 2Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; 3When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;29.3 candle: or, lamp 4As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; 5When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; 6When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;29.6 me: Heb. with me
7When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! 8The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. 9The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. 10The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.29.10 The nobles…: Heb. The voice of the nobles was hid 11When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: 12Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. 13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. 14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 15I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. 16I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. 17And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.29.17 the jaws: Heb. the jawteeth, or, the grinders29.17 plucked: Heb. cast
18Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. 19My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.29.19 spread…: Heb. opened 20My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.29.20 fresh: Heb. new29.20 renewed: Heb. changed 21Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. 22After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. 23And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 24If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. 25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
