Job's Final Statement of His Case
1 Job began speaking again.
Job
2 If only my life could once again
be as it was when God watched over me.
3 God was always with me then
and gave me light as I walked through the darkness.
4 Those were the days when I was prosperous,
and the friendship of God protected my home.
5 Almighty God was with me then,
and I was surrounded by all my children.
6 My cows and goats gave plenty of milk,
and my olive trees grew in the rockiest soil.
7 Whenever the city elders met
and I took my place among them,
8 young men stepped aside as soon as they saw me,
and old men stood up to show me respect.
9 The leaders of the people would stop talking;
10 even the most important men kept silent.
11 Everyone who saw me or heard of me
had good things to say about what I had done.
12 When the poor cried out, I helped them;
I gave help to orphans who had nowhere to turn.
13 People who were in deepest misery praised me,
and I helped widows find security.
14 I have always acted justly and fairly.
15 I was eyes for the blind,
and feet for the lame.
16 I was like a father to the poor
and took the side of strangers in trouble.
17 I destroyed the power of cruel men
and rescued their victims.
18 I always expected to live a long life
and to die at home in comfort.
19 I was like a tree whose roots always have water
and whose branches are wet with dew.
20 Everyone was always praising me,
and my strength never failed me.
21 When I gave advice, people were silent
and listened carefully to what I said;
22 they had nothing to add when I had finished.
My words sank in like drops of rain;
23 everyone welcomed them
just as farmers welcome rain in spring.
24 I smiled on them when they had lost confidence;
my cheerful face encouraged them.
25 I took charge and made the decisions;
I led them as a king leads his troops,
and gave them comfort in their despair.
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.
