Job 29
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Holman Christian Standard BibleNET Bible
1Job continued his discourse, saying: 1Then Job continued his speech:
2If only I could be as in months gone by, in the days when God watched over me, 2"O that I could be as I was in the months now gone, in the days when God watched over me,
3when His lamp shone above my head, and I walked through darkness by His light! 3when he caused his lamp to shine upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness;
4I would be as I was in the days of my youth when God's friendship rested on my tent, 4just as I was in my most productive time, when God's intimate friendship was experienced in my tent,
5when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, 5when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me;
6when my feet were bathed in cream and the rock poured out streams of oil for me! 6when my steps were bathed with butter and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil!
7When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the town square, 7When I went out to the city gate and secured my seat in the public square,
8the young men saw me and withdrew, while older men stood to their feet. 8the young men would see me and step aside, and the old men would get up and remain standing;
9City officials stopped talking and covered their mouths with their hands. 9the chief men refrained from talking and covered their mouths with their hands;
10The noblemen's voices were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. 10the voices of the nobles fell silent, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
11When they heard me, they blessed me, and when they saw me, they spoke well of me. 11"As soon as the ear heard these things, it blessed me, and when the eye saw them, it bore witness to me,
12For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help, and the fatherless child who had no one to support him. 12for I rescued the poor who cried out for help, and the orphan who had no one to assist him;
13The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow's heart rejoice. 13the blessing of the dying man descended on me, and I made the widow's heart rejoice;
14I clothed myself in righteousness, and it enveloped me; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban. 14I put on righteousness and it clothed me, my just dealing was like a robe and a turban;
15I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. 15I was eyes for the blind and feet for the lame;
16I was a father to the needy, and I examined the case of the stranger. 16I was a father to the needy, and I investigated the case of the person I did not know;
17I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth. 17I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop his prey from his teeth.
18So I thought: I will die in my own nest and multiply my days as the sand. 18"Then I thought, 'I will die in my own home, my days as numerous as the grains of sand.
19My roots will have access to water, and the dew will rest on my branches all night. 19My roots reach the water, and the dew lies on my branches all night long.
20My strength will be refreshed within me, and my bow will be renewed in my hand. 20My glory will always be fresh in me, and my bow ever new in my hand.'
21Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my advice. 21"People listened to me and waited silently; they kept silent for my advice.
22After a word from me they did not speak again; my speech settled on them like dew. 22After I had spoken, they did not respond; my words fell on them drop by drop.
23They waited for me as for the rain and opened their mouths as for spring showers. 23They waited for me as people wait for the rain, and they opened their mouths as for the spring rains.
24If I smiled at them, they couldn't believe it; they were thrilled at the light of my countenance. 24If I smiled at them, they hardly believed it; and they did not cause the light of my face to darken.
25I directed their course and presided as chief. I lived as a king among his troops, like one who comforts those who mourn. 25I chose the way for them and sat as their chief; I lived like a king among his troops; I was like one who comforts mourners.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Job 28
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