| English Standard Version | International Standard Version |
| 1And Job again took up his discourse, and said: | 1Then Job continued with his discourse: |
| 2“Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as 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 his lamp shone 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, |
| 4as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent, | 4like when I was in my prime and God trusted me with his secrets! |
| 5when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, | 5"The Almighty was still with me back then, and my children were still around me. |
| 6when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out for me streams of 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 gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square, | 7"Whenever I went out to the city gate, a seat had been reserved for me in the plaza. |
| 8the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose and stood; | 8The young men would see me and withdraw, and the aged would rise and stand. |
| 9the princes refrained from talking and laid their hand on their mouth; | 9Nobles would refrain from speaking, covering their mouths with their hands. |
| 10the voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth. | 10The voices of the commanders-in-chief were hushed, and their tongues would cling to the roofs of their mouths." |
| 11When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved, | 11"When people heard me speak, they blessed me; when people saw me, they approved me, |
| 12because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him. | 12because I delivered the poor who were crying for help, along with orphans who had no one to help them. |
| 13The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. | 13Those who were about to die blessed me, and I made widows sing for joy. |
| 14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice 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 to the blind and feet to the lame. | 15I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. |
| 16I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom 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 unrighteous and made him drop his prey from his teeth. | 17I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop the prey." |
| 18Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the 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 spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches, | 19My roots have spread out and have found water, and dew settles at night on my branches. |
| 20my glory fresh with 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“Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel. | 21"They listened and waited for me, as they remained in silence for my counsel. |
| 22After I spoke they did not speak again, and my word dropped upon them. | 22After I spoke, they had nothing to say, when what I said hit them. |
| 23They waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain. | 23They waited for me as one waits for rain, as one opens his mouth to drink in a spring rain shower. |
| 24I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and the light of my face they did not cast down. | 24I smiled at them when they had no confidence, and no one could discourage me. |
| 25I chose their way and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, 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." |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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