| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Then Job continued his speech: | 1Job continued speaking: |
| 2"O that I could be as I was in the months now gone, in the days when God watched over me, | 2“I long for the years gone by when God took care of me, |
| 3when he caused his lamp to shine upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness; | 3when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness. |
| 4just as I was in my most productive time, when God's intimate friendship was experienced in my tent, | 4When I was in my prime, God’s friendship was felt in my home. |
| 5when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me; | 5The Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me. |
| 6when my steps were bathed with butter and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil! | 6My steps were awash in cream, and the rocks gushed olive oil for me. |
| 7When I went out to the city gate and secured my seat in the public square, | 7“Those were the days when I went to the city gate and took my place among the honored leaders. |
| 8the young men would see me and step aside, and the old men would get up and remain standing; | 8The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming. |
| 9the chief men refrained from talking and covered their mouths with their hands; | 9The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths. |
| 10the voices of the nobles fell silent, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. | 10The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect. |
| 11"As soon as the ear heard these things, it blessed me, and when the eye saw them, it bore witness to me, | 11“All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me. |
| 12for I rescued the poor who cried out for help, and the orphan who had no one to assist him; | 12For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help. |
| 13the blessing of the dying man descended on me, and I made the widow's heart rejoice; | 13I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy. |
| 14I put on righteousness and it clothed me, my just dealing was like a robe and a turban; | 14Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like 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 poor and assisted strangers who needed help. |
| 17I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop his prey from his teeth. | 17I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth. |
| 18"Then I thought, 'I will die in my own home, my days as numerous as the grains of sand. | 18“I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life. |
| 19My roots reach the water, and the dew lies on my branches all night long. | 19For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew. |
| 20My glory will always be fresh in me, and my bow ever new in my hand.' | 20New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.’ |
| 21"People listened to me and waited silently; they kept silent for my advice. | 21“Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak. |
| 22After I had spoken, they did not respond; my words fell on them drop by drop. | 22And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them. |
| 23They waited for me as people wait for the rain, and they opened their mouths as for the spring rains. | 23They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain. |
| 24If I smiled at them, they hardly believed it; and they did not cause the light of my face to darken. | 24When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them. |
| 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. | 25Like a chief, I told them what to do. I lived like a king among his troops and comforted those who mourned. |
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