Job’s Final Speech
1Job continued to speak. He said,
2“How I long for the times when things were better!
That’s when God watched over me.
3The light of his lamp shone on me.
I walked through darkness by his light.
4Those were the best days of my life.
That’s when God’s friendship blessed my house.
5The Mighty One was still with me.
My children were all around me.
6The path in front of me was like sweet cream.
It was as if the rock poured out olive oil for me.
7“In those days I went to the city gate.
I took my seat as a member of the council.
8Young people who saw me stepped to one side.
Old people stood up as I approached.
9The leaders stopped speaking.
They covered their mouths with their hands.
10The voices of the nobles became quiet.
Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11Everyone who heard me said good things about me.
Those who saw me honored me.
12That’s because I saved poor people who cried out for help.
I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.
13Those who were dying gave me their blessing.
I made the hearts of widows sing.
14I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes.
Fairness was my robe and my turban.
15I was like eyes for those who were blind.
I was like feet for those who couldn’t walk.
16I was like a father to needy people.
I stood up for strangers in court.
17Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth.
But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.
18“I thought, ‘I’ll die in my own house.
The days of my life will be as many as the grains of sand.
19My roots will reach down to the water.
The dew will lie all night on my branches.
20I will remain healthy and strong.
My bow will stay as good as new in my hand.’
21“People wanted to hear what I had to say.
They waited silently for the advice I gave them.
22After I had spoken, they didn’t speak anymore.
My words fell gently on their ears.
23They waited for me just as they would wait for rain showers.
They drank my words just as they would drink the spring rain.
24When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it.
The light of my face lifted their spirits.
25I chose the way they should go. I sat as their chief.
I lived as a king lives among his troops.
I was like someone who comforts those who are sad.
回忆昔日的幸福
1约伯接着说：
2“但愿我回到从前的岁月，
回到上帝看顾我的日子。
3那时，祂的灯在我头上照耀，
祂的光伴我走过黑暗。
4那时，我身强力壮，
上帝是我家的密友；
5全能者尚与我同在，
儿女围绕在我身旁；
6我用奶油洗脚，
磐石为我涌出橄榄油。
7“那时，我去城门口，
到广场就坐，
8青年看见我便回避，
老人也起身肃立；
9王侯都停止讲话，
用手掩口；
10权贵都静默无声，
舌头紧贴上膛。
11听见我的都祝福我，
看见我的都称赞我。
12因为我拯救求助的穷人，
解救无人援助的孤儿。
13临终的人为我祝福，
我使寡妇心里欢唱。
14我以公义为衣穿在身上，
公正是我的外袍和帽子。
15我做瞎子的眼、
瘸子的脚；
16我做穷人的父，
为陌生人申冤。
17我打落恶人的毒牙，
从他们口中救出受害者。
18“我想，‘我必在家中安然离世，
我的年日必多如尘沙。
19我的根伸展到水边，
枝子整夜沐浴甘露。
20我的尊荣永不褪色。
手中的弓常新不败。’
21“人们期待聆听我的话，
默然等候我的教导。
22我讲完后，无人再发言；
我的话滋润他们的心田。
23他们盼我如盼甘霖，
张着口如慕春雨。
24我的微笑令他们受宠若惊，
他们从不使我脸色不悦。
25我为他们选择道路，并且做首领，
我就像君王住在军中，
又如伤心之人的安慰者。
