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.
Јовова последња одбрана
1А Јов је наставио своје казивање овим речима:
2„О, када би ми било као који месец раније,
као у данима када ме је Бог чувао;
3када ми је светлила његова светиљка над главом мојом,
по његовом светлу кад сам мраком ишао;
4баш какав сам био у својим једрим данима,
када сам у шатору своме с Богом близак био;
5онда кад је Свемоћни са мном био
и деца моја око мене!
6Тад сам ноге у маслу прао
и потоке уља цедио ми камен!
7А када бих изашао на градска врата и на трг,
ставио бих столицу своју;
8младићи би ме видели, па би се повукли,
а старци би устајали и стајали;
9главари би причу прекидали,
своја уста руком затварали;
10утихнуо би глас владара,
језик им се за непце лепио.
11Блаженим ме звало ухо што ме је слушало,
хвалило ме око што ме је гледало;
12јер сам избављао убогога што ко бедник вапи,
сиротога без помоћи.
13Страдалников благослов био је на мени,
а срцу сам удовице доносио песму.
14Праведност бих узимао, она ме је одевала;
правда ми је моја била ко одећа и ко турбан.
15Слепоме сам очи био,
хромоме сам ноге био.
16Отац сам био убогима,
незнанца сам на суду бранио.
17Ломио сам вилице злотвору,
из уста му жртву отимао.
18А причао сам: ’У своме ћу гнезду да преминем,
умножићу дане попут песка.
19Мој је корен досезао воду,
гране су моје преко ноћи росне;
20Моја је слава у мени свежа,
у руци је мојој увек млад лук.’
21Чекали су људи да ме чују,
ћутали би да чују мој савет.
22После моје речи нису узвраћали,
по њима би мој говор капао.
23Ко на кишу чекали би на ме,
уста своја отварали као да сам дажд пролећни.
24Веровали не би кад бих им се насмејао
и ведрину мог лица нису потамнили.
25Пут сам им бирао, попут кнеза сам седео;
био сам као цар међу четама,
као онај што жалосне теши.
