| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1And Job 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 above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness, | 3when His lamp shone above my head, and I walked through darkness by His light! |
| 4when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent, | 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 steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil! | 6when my feet were bathed in cream and the rock poured out streams of oil for me! |
| 7When I went out to the city gate 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 withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet. | 8the young men saw me and withdrew, while older men stood to their feet. |
| 9The princes 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 roofs of their mouths. | 10The noblemen's voices were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. |
| 11For those who heard me called me blessed, 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 out and the fatherless who had no helper. | 12For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help, and the fatherless child who had no one to support him. |
| 13The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. | 13The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow's heart rejoice. |
| 14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; 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 served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame. | 15I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. |
| 16I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger. | 16I was a father to the needy, and I examined the case of the stranger. |
| 17I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth. | 17I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth. |
| 18So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand. | 18So I thought: I will die in my own nest and multiply my days as the sand. |
| 19My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches. | 19My roots will have access to water, and the dew will rest on my branches all night. |
| 20My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’ | 20My strength will be refreshed within me, and my bow will be renewed in my hand. |
| 21Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel. | 21Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my advice. |
| 22After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew. | 22After a word from me they did not speak again; my speech settled on them like dew. |
| 23They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers. | 23They waited for me as for the rain and opened their mouths as for spring showers. |
| 24If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious. | 24If I smiled at them, they couldn't believe it; they were thrilled at the light of my countenance. |
| 25I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the 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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