1 И продолжил Иов свое рассуждение:

Then Job spoke again and said,

2 – Как я томлюсь по прошедшим месяцам, по тем дням, когда Бог хранил меня,

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

3 и светильник Его сиял над моей головой, и при свете Его я шел сквозь тьму!

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

4 О , это были мои лучшие годы, когда Божья дружба хранила мой шатер,

Those days were my best days when God was my friend watching over my tent.

5 к огда Всемогущий еще был со мной, а дети – вокруг меня,

The All-powerful was still with me, and my children were around me.

6 к огда молочные реки текли мне под ноги, и скалы источали масло.

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

7 В ыходил ли я к городским воротам, и садился на площади,

When I went to the city gate and took my place with the leaders of the city,

8 м еня завидев, юноши отступали, и поднимались старцы;

the young men saw me and let me go by. The old men rose and stood.

9 в ластители удерживались от слов и прикрывали рты руками;

The leaders stopped talking, and put their hands on their mouths.

10 г олоса знатных стихали, прилипали у них языки к нёбу.

The voices of the rulers were quiet. Their tongues held to the roof of their mouths.

11 К то меня слышал – превозносил меня кто меня видел – меня хвалил,

Those who heard me, honored me. Those who saw me, respected me,

12 в едь я спасал кричащего бедняка и беспомощного сироту.

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

13 У мирающий благословлял меня и сердце вдовы наполнял я радостной песней.

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 П раведность я надевал, как одежду; справедливость, как мантию и тюрбан.

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

15 С лепому я был глазами, и хромому – ногами.

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

16 Я был отцом для бедняков; я разбирал дело странника.

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

17 Я сокрушал челюсти беззаконных и спасал жертвы из их зубов.

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

18 Я думал: «Скончаюсь в своем гнезде, и дни мои будут многочисленны, как песок.

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

19 К ак дерево, чьи корни достигают воды, на чьи ветви ложится роса,

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 н е стареет слава моя, и лук крепок в руке моей».

My honor is always new to me, and my bow is new in my hand.’

21 В нимали мне, ожидали меня, в молчании слушали мой совет.

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

22 К огда замолкал я, больше не говорили; они впитывали мои слова как губка.

After I spoke, they did not speak again. My words stayed with them.

23 Ж дали меня, как дождя, и слова мои, как дождь весенний, ртом ловили.

They waited for me as for rain. And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

24 К огда я улыбался, не смели верить; света лица моего они не помрачали.

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

25 Я путь избирал им, воссев, как вождь; я жил, словно царь посреди войска, словно тот, кто плачущих утешает.

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.