| Holman Christian Standard Bible | New International Version |
| 1Job continued his discourse, saying: | 1Job continued his discourse: |
| 2If only I could be as in months gone by, in the days when God watched over me, | 2"How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, |
| 3when His lamp shone above my head, and I walked through darkness by His light! | 3when his lamp shone on 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, | 4Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house, |
| 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 path was drenched with cream 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, | 7"When I went to the gate of the city and took my seat in the public square, |
| 8the young men saw me and withdrew, while older men stood to their feet. | 8the young men saw me and stepped aside and the old men rose to their feet; |
| 9City officials stopped talking and covered their mouths with their hands. | 9the chief men refrained from speaking 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 were hushed, 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. | 11Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, |
| 12For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help, and the fatherless child who had no one to support him. | 12because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them. |
| 13The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow's heart rejoice. | 13The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow's heart sing. |
| 14I clothed myself in righteousness, and it enveloped me; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban. | 14I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my 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 examined the case of the stranger. | 16I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger. |
| 17I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth. | 17I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth. |
| 18So I thought: I will die in my own nest and multiply my days as the sand. | 18"I thought, 'I will die in my own house, 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 will reach to the water, and the dew will lie all night on my branches. |
| 20My strength will be refreshed within me, and my bow will be renewed in my hand. | 20My glory will not fade; the bow will be ever new in my hand.' |
| 21Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my advice. | 21"People listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel. |
| 22After a word from me they did not speak again; my speech settled on them like dew. | 22After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears. |
| 23They waited for me as for the rain and opened their mouths as for spring showers. | 23They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain. |
| 24If I smiled at them, they couldn't believe it; they were thrilled at the light of my countenance. | 24When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them. |
| 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 dwelt as 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. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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