Глава 29

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  • 1. And Job again took up the word and said,
  • 2. If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!
  • 3. When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
  • 4. As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
  • 5. While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
  • 6. When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
  • 7. When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
  • 8. The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
  • 9. The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
  • 10. The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
  • 11. For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
  • 12. For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.
  • 13. The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
  • 14. I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
  • 15. I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
  • 16. I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
  • 17. By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
  • 18. Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
  • 19. My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
  • 20. My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
  • 21. Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
  • 22. After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
  • 23. They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
  • 24. I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
  • 25. I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...