| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1And Job again took up his discourse, and said: | 1Job continued his discourse, saying: |
| 2“Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, | 2If only I could be as in months gone by, in the days when God watched over me, |
| 3when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, | 3when His lamp shone above my head, and I walked through darkness by His light! |
| 4as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent, | 4I would be as I was in the days of my youth when God's friendship rested on my tent, |
| 5when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, | 5when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, |
| 6when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil! | 6when my feet were bathed in cream and the rock poured out streams of oil for me! |
| 7When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square, | 7When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the town square, |
| 8the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose and stood; | 8the young men saw me and withdrew, while older men stood to their feet. |
| 9the princes refrained from talking and laid their hand on their mouth; | 9City officials stopped talking and covered their mouths with their hands. |
| 10the voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth. | 10The noblemen's voices were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. |
| 11When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved, | 11When they heard me, they blessed me, and when they saw me, they spoke well of me. |
| 12because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him. | 12For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help, and the fatherless child who had no one to support him. |
| 13The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. | 13The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow's heart rejoice. |
| 14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. | 14I clothed myself in righteousness, and it enveloped me; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban. |
| 15I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. | 15I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. |
| 16I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. | 16I was a father to the needy, and I examined the case of the stranger. |
| 17I broke the fangs of the unrighteous and made him drop his prey from his teeth. | 17I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth. |
| 18Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand, | 18So I thought: I will die in my own nest and multiply my days as the sand. |
| 19my roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches, | 19My roots will have access to water, and the dew will rest on my branches all night. |
| 20my glory fresh with me, and my bow ever new in my hand.’ | 20My strength will be refreshed within me, and my bow will be renewed in my hand. |
| 21“Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel. | 21Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my advice. |
| 22After I spoke they did not speak again, and my word dropped upon them. | 22After a word from me they did not speak again; my speech settled on them like dew. |
| 23They waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain. | 23They waited for me as for the rain and opened their mouths as for spring showers. |
| 24I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and the light of my face they did not cast down. | 24If I smiled at them, they couldn't believe it; they were thrilled at the light of my countenance. |
| 25I chose their way and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners. | 25I directed their course and presided as chief. I lived as a king among his troops, like one who comforts those who mourn. |
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