1 T hen Job spoke again and said,

И продолжал Иов возвышенную речь свою и сказал:

2 “ If only I could be now as I was in the months past when God watched over me!

о, если бы я был, как в прежние месяцы, как в те дни, когда Бог хранил меня,

3 H is lamp shined over my head then and by His light I walked through darkness.

когда светильник Его светил над головою моею, и я при свете Его ходил среди тьмы;

4 T hose days were my best days when God was my friend watching over my tent.

как был я во дни молодости моей, когда милость Божия над шатром моим,

5 T he All-powerful was still with me, and my children were around me.

когда еще Вседержитель со мною, и дети мои вокруг меня,

6 M y path was washed with milk, and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me.

когда пути мои обливались молоком, и скала источала для меня ручьи елея!

7 W hen I went to the city gate and took my place with the leaders of the city,

когда я выходил к воротам города и на площади ставил седалище свое, --

8 t he young men saw me and let me go by. The old men rose and stood.

юноши, увидев меня, прятались, а старцы вставали и стояли;

9 T he leaders stopped talking, and put their hands on their mouths.

князья удерживались от речи и персты полагали на уста свои;

10 T he voices of the rulers were quiet. Their tongues held to the roof of their mouths.

голос знатных умолкал, и язык их прилипал к гортани их.

11 T hose who heard me, honored me. Those who saw me, respected me,

Ухо, слышавшее меня, ублажало меня; око видевшее восхваляло меня,

12 b ecause I helped the poor man when he cried for help and the child without parents who had no one to help him.

потому что я спасал страдальца вопиющего и сироту беспомощного.

13 G ood came to me from the man who was dying. And I made the heart of the woman whose husband had died sing for joy.

Благословение погибавшего приходило на меня, и сердцу вдовы доставлял я радость.

14 I put on what was right and good, and it clothed me. The right things done were my coat and head-covering.

Я облекался в правду, и суд мой одевал меня, как мантия и увясло.

15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the man who could not walk.

Я был глазами слепому и ногами хромому;

16 I was a father to those in need. And I helped those I did not know who had a need.

отцом был я для нищих и тяжбу, которой я не знал, разбирал внимательно.

17 I broke the jaws of the sinful, and took from their teeth what they had taken.

Сокрушал я беззаконному челюсти и из зубов его исторгал похищенное.

18 T hen I thought, ‘I will die in my nest. My days will be as many as the sand.

И говорил я: в гнезде моем скончаюсь, и дни будут многи, как песок;

19 M y roots go to the water. As the water is on the grass in the early morning, it will be all night on my branches.

корень мой открыт для воды, и роса ночует на ветвях моих;

20 M y honor is always new to me, and my bow is new in my hand.’

слава моя не стареет, лук мой крепок в руке моей.

21 “ Men listened to me and waited. They were quiet so they could hear my words of wisdom.

Внимали мне и ожидали, и безмолвствовали при совете моем.

22 A fter I spoke, they did not speak again. My words stayed with them.

После слов моих уже не рассуждали; речь моя капала на них.

23 T hey waited for me as for rain. And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

Ждали меня, как дождя, и, дождю позднему, открывали уста свои.

24 I looked at them with joy when they were not sure of themselves, and the light of my face gave them comfort.

Бывало, улыбнусь им--они не верят; и света лица моего они не помрачали.

25 I decided the way for them and sat as their leader. I lived as a king among his army, and like one who gives comfort to those in sorrow.

Я назначал пути им и сидел во главе и жил как царь в кругу воинов, как утешитель плачущих.