| Holman Christian Standard Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Job continued his discourse, saying: | 1And Job again took up his discourse and said, |
| 2If only I could be as in months gone by, in the days when God watched over me, | 2"Oh that I were as in months gone by, As in 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 over 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, | 4As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent; |
| 5when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, | 5When the Almighty was yet 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 in butter, And the rock poured out for me streams of oil! |
| 7When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the town square, | 7"When I went out to the gate of the city, When I took my seat in the square, |
| 8the young men saw me and withdrew, while older men stood to their feet. | 8The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the old men arose and stood. |
| 9City officials stopped talking and covered their mouths with their hands. | 9"The princes stopped talking And put their hands on their mouths; |
| 10The noblemen's voices were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. | 10The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue stuck to their palate. |
| 11When they heard me, they blessed me, and when they saw me, they spoke well of me. | 11"For when the ear heard, it called me blessed, And when the eye saw, it gave witness of 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 delivered the poor who cried for help, And the orphan who had no helper. |
| 13The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow's heart rejoice. | 13"The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, And I made the widow's heart sing for joy. |
| 14I clothed myself in righteousness, and it enveloped me; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban. | 14"I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban. |
| 15I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. | 15"I 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. | 16"I was a father to the needy, And I investigated the case which I did not know. |
| 17I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth. | 17"I broke the jaws of the wicked And snatched the 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 shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand. |
| 19My roots will have access to water, and the dew will rest on my branches all night. | 19'My root is spread out to the waters, And dew lies all night on my branch. |
| 20My strength will be refreshed within me, and my bow will be renewed in my hand. | 20My glory is ever new with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.' |
| 21Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my advice. | 21"To me they listened and waited, And kept silent for my counsel. |
| 22After a word from me they did not speak again; my speech settled on them like dew. | 22"After my words they did not speak again, And my speech dropped on them. |
| 23They waited for me as for the rain and opened their mouths as for spring showers. | 23"They waited for me as for the rain, And opened their mouth as for the spring rain. |
| 24If I smiled at them, they couldn't believe it; they were thrilled at the light of my countenance. | 24"I smiled on them when they did not believe, And the light of my face they did not cast down. |
| 25I directed their course and presided as chief. I lived as a king among his troops, like one who comforts those who mourn. | 25"I chose a way for them and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king among the troops, As one who comforted the mourners. |
| Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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