International Standard Version | New International Version |
1Then Job continued with his discourse: | 1Job continued his discourse: |
2"I wish I could go back to how things were a few months ago; when God used to watch over me, | 2"How I long for the months gone by, for 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 on my head and by his light I walked through darkness! |
4like when I was in my prime and God trusted me with his secrets! | 4Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house, |
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 path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil. |
7"Whenever I went out to the city gate, a seat had been reserved for me in the plaza. | 7"When I went to the gate of the city and took my seat in the public square, |
8The young men would see me and withdraw, and the aged would rise and stand. | 8the young men saw me and stepped aside and the old men rose to their feet; |
9Nobles would refrain from speaking, covering their mouths with their hands. | 9the chief men refrained from speaking 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 voices of the nobles 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, | 11Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, |
12because I delivered the poor who were crying for help, along with orphans who had no one to help them. | 12because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them. |
13Those who were about to die blessed me, and I made widows sing for joy. | 13The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow's heart sing. |
14I put on righteousness like clothing; 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 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; I took up the case of the stranger. |
17I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop the prey." | 17I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their 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. | 18"I thought, 'I will die in my own house, my days as numerous as the grains of sand. |
19My roots have spread out and have found water, and dew settles at night on my branches. | 19My roots will reach to the water, and the dew will lie all night on my branches. |
20My glory renews for me and my bow is as good as new in my hand.' | 20My glory will not fade; the bow will be ever new in my hand.' |
21"They listened and waited for me, as they remained in silence for my counsel. | 21"People listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel. |
22After I spoke, they had nothing to say, when what I said hit them. | 22After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears. |
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 showers and drank in my words as the spring rain. |
24I smiled at them when they had no confidence, and no one could discourage me. | 24When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them. |
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 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. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | 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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