New International Version | New Living Translation |
1Job continued his discourse: | 1Job continued speaking: |
2"How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, | 2“I long for the years gone by when God took care of me, |
3when his lamp shone on 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. |
4Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house, | 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 path was drenched with cream 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. |
7"When I went to the gate of the city and took 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 saw me and stepped aside and the old men rose to their feet; | 8The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming. |
9the chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands; | 9The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths. |
10the voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. | 10The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect. |
11Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, | 11“All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me. |
12because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them. | 12For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help. |
13The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow's heart sing. | 13I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy. |
14I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban. | 14Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like 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; I took up the case of the stranger. | 16I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help. |
17I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth. | 17I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth. |
18"I thought, 'I will die in my own house, 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 will reach to the water, and the dew will lie all night on my branches. | 19For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew. |
20My glory will not fade; the bow will be ever new in my hand.' | 20New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.’ |
21"People listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel. | 21“Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak. |
22After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears. | 22And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them. |
23They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain. | 23They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain. |
24When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them. | 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 dwelt as 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. |
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. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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