Og Job tok på nytt til orde og sa,

And Job again took up the word and said,

Bare jeg kunne være som jeg var i de månedene som er forbi, i de dager da Gud voktet over meg!

If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!

Da hans lys skinte over hodet mitt, og da jeg gikk gjennom mørket ved hans lys.

When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.

Som jeg var i mine beste år, da mitt telt ble dekket av Guds hånd;

As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;

Mens Den Allmektige fortsatt var med meg, og mine barn var omkring meg;

While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;

Da mine steg ble vasket med melk, og elver av olje rant ut av berget for meg.

When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.

Da jeg gikk ut av døren min for å dra opp til byen, og tok min plass i offentligheten,

When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,

De unge mennene så meg og trakk seg tilbake, og de gamle reiste seg fra sine seter;

The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;

Høvdingene holdt munn og la hendene over munnen sin;

The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;

De fremstående holdt tilbake sine ord, og tungene deres var klebet til ganene.

The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.

For når det nådde deres ører, sa folk at jeg virkelig var lykkelig; og når deres øyne så meg, ga de sitt vitnesbyrd til meg;

For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;

For jeg var en redningsmann for den fattige når han ropte om hjelp, for barnet uten far, og for den som ikke hadde noen støttespiller.

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.

Velsignelsen fra den som var nær undergang kom over meg, og jeg satte en gledessang i enkens hjerte.

The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.

Jeg kledde meg i rettferdighet som klærne mine, og var full av det; rettferdige beslutninger var som en kappe og et hodeplagg for meg.

I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.

Jeg var øyne for den blinde, og føtter for den som ikke kunne gå.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.

Jeg var en far for de fattige, og undersøkte saken til den som var fremmed for meg.

I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.

Ved meg ble den onde gjerningsmannens store tenner brutt, og jeg fikk ham til å gi opp det han hadde tatt med vold.

By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.

Da sa jeg, jeg vil komme til min ende med mine barn rundt meg, mine dager vil være som sandens antall;

Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;

Min rot vil være åpen for vannene, og nattemisten vil være på mine grener,

My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,

Min ære vil alltid være ny, og min bue vil være lett bøyd i hånden min.

My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.

Folk lyttet til meg, ventet og holdt seg stille for mine forslag.

Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.

Etter at jeg hadde sagt hva jeg tenkte, var de tause og lot ordene mine trenge dypt inn i hjertene deres;

After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;

De ventet på meg som på regnet, åpnet munnen brede som for vårregnet.

They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.

Jeg lo med dem når de ikke hadde håp, og lysglansen i ansiktet mitt ble aldri skyet av deres frykt.

I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.

Jeg tok min plass som en leder, og ledet dem på veien, og jeg var som en konge blant hans hær.

I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...