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. ...
1 Und Hiob hub abermal an seine Sprüche und sprach:
2 O daß ich wäre wie in den vorigen Monden, in den Tagen, da mich GOtt behütete,
3 da seine Leuchte über meinem Haupte schien, und ich bei seinem Licht in der Finsternis ging;
4 wie ich war zur Zeit meiner Jugend, da Gottes Geheimnis über meiner Hütte war;
5 da der Allmächtige noch mit mir war und meine Kinder um mich her;
6 da ich meine Tritte wusch in Butter, und die Felsen mir Ölbäche gossen;
7 da ich ausging zum Tor in der Stadt und ließ meinen Stuhl auf der Gasse bereiten;
8 da mich die Jungen sahen und sich versteckten, und die Alten vor mir aufstunden;
9 da die Obersten aufhöreten zu reden, und legten ihre Hand auf ihren Mund;
10 da die Stimme der Fürsten sich verkroch, und ihre Zunge an ihrem Gaumen klebte.
11 Denn welches Ohr mich hörete, der preisete mich selig, und welches Auge mich sah, der rühmte mich.
12 Denn ich errettete den Armen, der da schrie, und den Waisen, der keinen Helfer hatte.
13 Der Segen des, der verderben sollte, kam über mich; und ich erfreuete das Herz der Witwe.
14 Gerechtigkeit war mein Kleid, das ich anzog wie einen Rock; und mein Recht war mein fürstlicher Hut.
15 Ich war des Blinden Auge und des Lahmen Füße.
16 Ich war ein Vater der Armen; und welche Sache ich nicht wußte, die erforschete ich.
17 Ich zerbrach die Backenzähne des Ungerechten und riß den Raub aus seinen Zähnen.
18 Ich gedachte: Ich will in meinem Nest ersterben und meiner Tage viel machen wie Sand.
19 Meine Saat ging auf am Wasser; und der Tau blieb über meiner Ernte.
20 Meine Herrlichkeit erneuerte sich immer an mir; und mein Bogen besserte sich in meiner Hand.
21 Man hörete mir zu, und schwiegen und warteten auf meinen Rat.
22 Nach meinen Worten redete niemand mehr; und meine Rede troff auf sie.
23 Sie warteten auf mich wie auf den Regen und sperreten ihren Mund auf als nach dem Abendregen.
24 Wenn ich sie anlachte, wurden sie nicht zu kühn darauf, und das Licht meines Angesichts machte mich nicht geringer.
25 Wenn ich zu ihrem Geschäfte wollte kommen, so mußte ich obenan sitzen und wohnete wie ein König unter Kriegsknechten, da ich tröstete, die Leid trugen.