Job Continues
I Long for the Past
1 Job said:
2 I long for the past,
when God took care of me,
3 and the light from his lamp
showed me the way
through the dark.
4 I was in the prime of life,
God All-Powerful
was my closest friend,
5 and all of my children
were nearby.
6 My herds gave enough milk
to bathe my feet,
and from my olive harvest
flowed rivers of oil.
* 7 When I sat down at the meeting
of the city council,
8 the young leaders stepped aside,
* 9 while the older ones stood
10 and remained silent.
Everyone Was Pleased
11 Everyone was pleased
with what I said and did.
12 When poor people or orphans
cried out for help,
I came to their rescue.
13 And I was highly praised
for my generosity to widows
and others in poverty.
14 Kindness and justice
were my coat and hat;
15 I was helpful to the blind
and to the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy,
and I defended them in court,
even if they were strangers.
17 When criminals attacked,
I broke their teeth
and set their victims free.
18 I felt certain that I would live
a long and happy life,
then die in my own bed.
19 In those days I was strong
like a tree with deep roots
and with plenty of water,
20 or like an archer's new bow.
21 Everyone listened in silence
to my welcome advice,
22 and when I finished speaking,
nothing needed to be said.
23 My words were eagerly accepted
like the showers of spring,
24 and the smile on my face
renewed everyone's hopes.
25 My advice was followed
as though I were a king
leading my troops,
or someone comforting
those in sorrow.
Ījabs par savu agrāko godību…
1 Ījabs turpināja savu runu, sacīdams:
2 “Kaut es būtu kā senos mēnešos,
kā dienās, kad Dievs mani sargāja,
3 iededza savu gaismekli virs manas galvas,
viņa gaismā es staigāju tumsā!
4 Kad man bija ražas laiks
un pār manu telti Dieva padoms,
5 kad vēl Visuvarenais bija ar mani
un mani bērni ap mani,
6 kad mazgājās pienā mani soļi
un pat klints man izverda eļļu!
7 Kad iznācu pilsētas vārtos,
kad laukumā iznācu sēdēt,
8 puiši redzēja mani un slēpās,
vecie cēlās un palika stāvam,
9 augstmaņi mitējās runāt
un plaukstu lika uz mutes,
10 apklusa diženo balsis,
mēle tiem lipa pie aukslējām.
11 Ļaudis dzirdēja un slavēja mani,
ļaudis redzēja un godāja mani!
12 Es glābu nabagu, kas brēc,
bāreni, kam palīga nav,
13 kas postā, svētīja mani,
atraitnes sirdi es ielīksmoju.
14 Taisnībā tērpos, tā ģērba mani,
kā galvauts un mētelis bija mans spriedums,
15 aklajam es biju acis,
un klibajam kājas es biju.
16 Tēvs es biju nabagiem,
un svešo sūdzības es izskatīju.
17 Netaisnā dzerokļus es sadragāju,
no zobiem tam izrāvu laupījumu.
18 Teicu: vecumā nomiršu es,
kā smilšu būs manu dienu,
19 manas saknes ūdenī sniedzas,
rasa nakšņo man zaros,
20 mans gods allaž jauns,
uzvilkts loks man rokā.
21 Manī klausījās visi un gaidīja,
klusējot mana padoma cietās.
22 Kad biju runājis, tie mitējās! –
pār tiem ritēja mani vārdi.
23 Kā lietu tie gaidīja mani,
kā pavasara negaisā pleta muti,
24 kad uzsmaidīju, tie pat neticēja,
baidījās aptumšot manu vaigu.
25 Es tiem rādīju ceļu,
kā ķēniņš sēdēju pulka vidū,
kā bēdīgo mierinātājs.
