| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Then Job continued his speech: | 1Then Job continued with his discourse: |
| 2"O that I could be as I was in the months now gone, in the days when God watched over me, | 2"I wish I could go back to how things were a few months ago; when God used to watch over me, |
| 3when he caused his lamp to shine upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness; | 3when his lamp used to shine over my head, so I could walk through the dark, |
| 4just as I was in my most productive time, when God's intimate friendship was experienced in my tent, | 4like when I was in my prime and God trusted me with his secrets! |
| 5when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me; | 5"The Almighty was still with me back then, and my children were still around me. |
| 6when my steps were bathed with butter and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil! | 6I was successful wherever I went, and even the rocks poured out streams of olive oil for me." |
| 7When I went out to the city gate and secured my seat in the public square, | 7"Whenever I went out to the city gate, a seat had been reserved for me in the plaza. |
| 8the young men would see me and step aside, and the old men would get up and remain standing; | 8The young men would see me and withdraw, and the aged would rise and stand. |
| 9the chief men refrained from talking and covered their mouths with their hands; | 9Nobles would refrain from speaking, covering their mouths with their hands. |
| 10the voices of the nobles fell silent, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. | 10The voices of the commanders-in-chief were hushed, and their tongues would cling to the roofs of their mouths." |
| 11"As soon as the ear heard these things, it blessed me, and when the eye saw them, it bore witness to me, | 11"When people heard me speak, they blessed me; when people saw me, they approved me, |
| 12for I rescued the poor who cried out for help, and the orphan who had no one to assist him; | 12because I delivered the poor who were crying for help, along with orphans who had no one to help them. |
| 13the blessing of the dying man descended on me, and I made the widow's heart rejoice; | 13Those who were about to die blessed me, and I made widows sing for joy. |
| 14I put on righteousness and it clothed me, my just dealing was like a robe and a turban; | 14I put on righteousness like clothing; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban. |
| 15I was eyes for the blind and feet for the lame; | 15I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. |
| 16I was a father to the needy, and I investigated the case of the person I did not know; | 16I was a father to the needy; I diligently inquired into the case of those I didn't know. |
| 17I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop his prey from his teeth. | 17I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop the prey." |
| 18"Then I thought, 'I will die in my own home, my days as numerous as the grains of sand. | 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. |
| 19My roots reach the water, and the dew lies on my branches all night long. | 19My roots have spread out and have found water, and dew settles at night on my branches. |
| 20My glory will always be fresh in me, and my bow ever new in my hand.' | 20My glory renews for me and my bow is as good as new in my hand.' |
| 21"People listened to me and waited silently; they kept silent for my advice. | 21"They listened and waited for me, as they remained in silence for my counsel. |
| 22After I had spoken, they did not respond; my words fell on them drop by drop. | 22After I spoke, they had nothing to say, when what I said hit them. |
| 23They waited for me as people wait for the rain, and they opened their mouths as for the spring rains. | 23They waited for me as one waits for rain, as one opens his mouth to drink in a spring rain shower. |
| 24If I smiled at them, they hardly believed it; and they did not cause the light of my face to darken. | 24I smiled at them when they had no confidence, and no one could discourage me. |
| 25I chose the way for them and sat as their chief; I lived like a king among his troops; I was like one who comforts mourners. | 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." |
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