| New International Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Job continued his discourse: | 1Job continued his discourse, saying: |
| 2"How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, | 2If only I could be as in months gone by, in the days when God watched over me, |
| 3when his lamp shone on my head and by his light I walked through darkness! | 3when his lamp shone above my head, and I walked through darkness by his light! |
| 4Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house, | 4I would be as I was in the days of my youth when God's friendship rested on my tent, |
| 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 path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil. | 6when my feet were bathed in curds and the rock poured out streams of oil for me! |
| 7"When I went to the gate of the city and took my seat in the public square, | 7When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the town square, |
| 8the young men saw me and stepped aside and the old men rose to their feet; | 8the young men saw me and withdrew, while older men stood to their feet. |
| 9the chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands; | 9City officials stopped talking and covered their mouths with their hands. |
| 10the voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. | 10The noblemen's voices were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. |
| 11Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, | 11When they heard me, they blessed me, and when they saw me, they spoke well of me. |
| 12because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them. | 12For I rescued the poor who cried out for help, and the fatherless child who had no one to support him. |
| 13The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow's heart sing. | 13The dying blessed me, and I made the widow's heart rejoice. |
| 14I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban. | 14I clothed myself in righteousness, and it enveloped me; my just decisions were like a robe and a 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; I took up the case of the stranger. | 16I was a father to the needy, and I examined the case of the stranger. |
| 17I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth. | 17I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth. |
| 18"I thought, 'I will die in my own house, my days as numerous as the grains of sand. | 18So I thought, "I will die in my own nest and multiply my days as the sand. |
| 19My roots will reach to the water, and the dew will lie all night on my branches. | 19My roots will have access to water, and the dew will rest on my branches all night. |
| 20My glory will not fade; the bow will be ever new in my hand.' | 20My whole being will be refreshed within me, and my bow will be renewed in my hand." |
| 21"People listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel. | 21Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my advice. |
| 22After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears. | 22After a word from me they did not speak again; my speech settled on them like dew. |
| 23They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain. | 23They waited for me as for the rain and opened their mouths as for spring showers. |
| 24When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them. | 24If I smiled at them, they couldn't believe it; they were thrilled at the light of my countenance. |
| 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. | 25I directed their course and presided as chief. I lived as a king among his troops, like one who comforts those who mourn. |
| 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. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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