1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, 2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; 3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; 4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; 5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; 6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! 8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. 9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. 10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 11 When the ear heard me , then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me , it gave witness to me: 12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. 13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. 16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. 17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. 19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. 20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. 21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. 22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. 23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. 25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
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.
