| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then Job continued with his discourse: | 1Job continued his discourse, saying: |
| 2"I wish I could go back to how things were a few months ago; when God used to watch over me, | 2If only I could be as in months gone by, in the days when God watched over me, |
| 3when his lamp used to shine over my head, so I could walk through the dark, | 3when His lamp shone above my head, and I walked through darkness by His light! |
| 4like when I was in my prime and God trusted me with his secrets! | 4I would be as I was in the days of my youth when God's friendship rested on my tent, |
| 5"The Almighty was still with me back then, and my children were still around me. | 5when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, |
| 6I was successful wherever I went, and even the rocks poured out streams of olive oil for me." | 6when my feet were bathed in cream and the rock poured out streams of oil for me! |
| 7"Whenever I went out to the city gate, a seat had been reserved for me in the plaza. | 7When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the town square, |
| 8The young men would see me and withdraw, and the aged would rise and stand. | 8the young men saw me and withdrew, while older men stood to their feet. |
| 9Nobles would refrain from speaking, covering their mouths with their hands. | 9City officials stopped talking and covered their mouths with their hands. |
| 10The voices of the commanders-in-chief were hushed, and their tongues would cling to the roofs of their mouths." | 10The noblemen's voices were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. |
| 11"When people heard me speak, they blessed me; when people saw me, they approved me, | 11When they heard me, they blessed me, and when they saw me, they spoke well of me. |
| 12because I delivered the poor who were crying for help, along with orphans who had no one to help them. | 12For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help, and the fatherless child who had no one to support him. |
| 13Those who were about to die blessed me, and I made widows sing for joy. | 13The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow's heart rejoice. |
| 14I put on righteousness like clothing; my just decisions were 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 served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. | 15I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. |
| 16I was a father to the needy; I diligently inquired into the case of those I didn't know. | 16I was a father to the needy, and I examined the case of the stranger. |
| 17I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop the prey." | 17I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth. |
| 18"I used to say: 'I will die in my home. I'm going to live as many days as there are grains of sand on the shore. | 18So I thought: I will die in my own nest and multiply my days as the sand. |
| 19My roots have spread out and have found water, and dew settles at night on my branches. | 19My roots will have access to water, and the dew will rest on my branches all night. |
| 20My glory renews for me and my bow is as good as new in my hand.' | 20My strength will be refreshed within me, and my bow will be renewed in my hand. |
| 21"They listened and waited for me, as they remained in silence for my counsel. | 21Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my advice. |
| 22After I spoke, they had nothing to say, when what I said hit them. | 22After a word from me they did not speak again; my speech settled on them like dew. |
| 23They waited for me as one waits for rain, as one opens his mouth to drink in a spring rain shower. | 23They waited for me as for the rain and opened their mouths as for spring showers. |
| 24I smiled at them when they had no confidence, and no one could discourage me. | 24If I smiled at them, they couldn't believe it; they were thrilled at the light of my countenance. |
| 25I set an example of the way to live, as a leader would; I lived like a king among his army; 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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