1 G iobbe riprese il suo discorso e disse:
Then Job spoke again and said,
2 « Oh, potessi tornare come ai mesi di una volta, come ai giorni in cui Dio mi proteggeva,
“If only I could be now as I was in the months past when God watched over me!
3 q uando la sua lampada mi risplendeva sul capo e alla sua luce io camminavo nelle tenebre!
His lamp shined over my head then and by His light I walked through darkness.
4 O h, fossi com’ero ai giorni della mia maturità, quando Dio vegliava amico sulla mia tenda,
Those days were my best days when God was my friend watching over my tent.
5 q uando l’Onnipotente stava ancora con me e avevo i miei figli intorno a me;
The All-powerful was still with me, and my children were around me.
6 q uando mi lavavo i piedi nel latte e dalla roccia mi fluivano ruscelli d’olio!
My path was washed with milk, and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me.
7 S e uscivo per andare alla porta della città e mi facevo preparare il seggio sulla piazza,
When I went to the city gate and took my place with the leaders of the city,
8 i giovani, al vedermi, si ritiravano, i vecchi si alzavano e rimanevano in piedi;
the young men saw me and let me go by. The old men rose and stood.
9 i notabili cessavano di parlare e si mettevano la mano sulla bocca;
The leaders stopped talking, and put their hands on their mouths.
10 l a voce dei capi diventava muta, la lingua si attaccava al loro palato.
The voices of the rulers were quiet. Their tongues held to the roof of their mouths.
11 L ’orecchio che mi udiva mi diceva beato; l’occhio che mi vedeva mi rendeva testimonianza,
Those who heard me, honored me. Those who saw me, respected me,
12 p erché salvavo il misero che gridava aiuto e l’orfano che non aveva chi lo soccorresse.
because I helped the poor man when he cried for help and the child without parents who had no one to help him.
13 S cendeva su di me la benedizione di chi stava per perire, facevo esultare il cuore della vedova.
Good came to me from the man who was dying. And I made the heart of the woman whose husband had died sing for joy.
14 L a giustizia era il mio vestito e io il suo; la rettitudine era come il mio mantello e il mio turbante.
I put on what was right and good, and it clothed me. The right things done were my coat and head-covering.
15 E ro l’occhio del cieco, il piede dello zoppo;
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the man who could not walk.
16 e ro il padre dei poveri, studiavo a fondo la causa dello sconosciuto.
I was a father to those in need. And I helped those I did not know who had a need.
17 S pezzavo la ganascia al malfattore, gli facevo lasciare la preda che aveva fra i denti.
I broke the jaws of the sinful, and took from their teeth what they had taken.
18 D icevo: “Morirò nel mio nido, moltiplicherò i miei giorni come la sabbia;
Then I thought, ‘I will die in my nest. My days will be as many as the sand.
19 l e mie radici si stenderanno verso le acque, la rugiada passerà la notte sui miei rami;
My roots go to the water. As the water is on the grass in the early morning, it will be all night on my branches.
20 l a mia gloria sempre si rinnoverà, l’arco rinverdirà nella mia mano”.
My honor is always new to me, and my bow is new in my hand.’
21 I presenti mi ascoltavano fiduciosi, tacevano per udire il mio parere.
“Men listened to me and waited. They were quiet so they could hear my words of wisdom.
22 Q uando avevo parlato, non replicavano; la mia parola scendeva su di loro come una rugiada.
After I spoke, they did not speak again. My words stayed with them.
23 M i aspettavano come si aspetta la pioggia; aprivano larga la bocca come a un acquazzone di primavera.
They waited for me as for rain. And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.
24 I o sorridevo loro quando erano sfiduciati; non potevano oscurare la luce del mio volto.
I looked at them with joy when they were not sure of themselves, and the light of my face gave them comfort.
25 Q uando andavo da loro, mi sedevo come capo; ero come un re tra le sue schiere, come un consolatore in mezzo agli afflitti.
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.