1وعاد ايوب ينطق بمثله فقال
1Job again took up his parable, and said,
2يا ليتني كما في الشهور السالفة وكالايام التي حفظني الله فيها
2“Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
3حين اضاء سراجه على راسي وبنوره سلكت الظلمة.
3when his lamp shone on my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,
4كما كنت في ايام خريفي ورضا الله على خيمتي
4as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was in my tent,
5والقدير بعد معي وحولي غلماني
5when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
6اذ غسلت خطواتي باللبن والصخر سكب لي جداول زيت
6when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
7حين كنت اخرج الى الباب في القرية واهيّئ في الساحة مجلسي.
7when I went forth to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.
8رآني الغلمان فاختبأوا والاشياخ قاموا ووقفوا.
8The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
9العظماء امسكوا عن الكلام ووضعوا ايديهم على افواههم.
9The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10صوت الشرفاء اختفى ولصقت ألسنتهم باحناكهم.
10The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11لان الاذن سمعت فطوّبتني والعين رأت فشهدت لي.
11For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it commended me:
12لاني انقذت المسكين المستغيث واليتيم ولا معين له.
12Because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had none to help him,
13بركة الهالك حلت عليّ وجعلت قلب الارملة يسرّ.
13the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14لبست البر فكساني. كجبّة وعمامة كان عدلي.
14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
15كنت عيونا للعمي وارجلا للعرج.
15I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
16اب انا للفقراء ودعوى لم اعرفها فحصت عنها.
16I was a father to the needy. The cause of him who I didn’t know, I searched out.
17هشمت اضراس الظالم ومن بين اسنانه خطفت الفريسة.
17I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
18فقلت اني في وكري اسلم الروح ومثل السمندل اكثر اياما.
18Then I said, ‘I shall die in my own house, I shall number my days as the sand.
19أصلي كان منبسطا الى المياه والطل بات على اغصاني.
19My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
20كرامتي بقيت حديثة عندي وقوسي تجددت في يدي.
20My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.’
21لي سمعوا وانتظروا ونصتوا عند مشورتي.
21“Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
22بعد كلامي لم يثنّوا وقولي قطر عليهم.
22After my words they didn’t speak again. My speech fell on them.
23وانتظروني مثل المطر وفغروا افواههم كما للمطر المتأخر.
23They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
24ان ضحكت عليم لم يصدقوا ونور وجهي لم يعبسوا.
24I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.
25كنت اختار طريقهم واجلس راسا واسكن كملك في جيش كمن يعزي النائحين
25I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.