| New Living Translation | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Job continued speaking: | 1And Job again took up his discourse and said, |
| 2“I long for the years gone by when God took care of me, | 2"Oh that I were as in months gone by, As in the days when God watched over me; |
| 3when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness. | 3When His lamp shone over my head, And by His light I walked through darkness; |
| 4When I was in my prime, God’s friendship was felt in my home. | 4As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent; |
| 5The Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me. | 5When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were around me; |
| 6My steps were awash in cream, and the rocks gushed olive oil for me. | 6When my steps were bathed in butter, And the rock poured out for me streams of oil! |
| 7“Those were the days when I went to the city gate and took my place among the honored leaders. | 7"When I went out to the gate of the city, When I took my seat in the square, |
| 8The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming. | 8The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the old men arose and stood. |
| 9The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths. | 9"The princes stopped talking And put their hands on their mouths; |
| 10The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect. | 10The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue stuck to their palate. |
| 11“All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me. | 11"For when the ear heard, it called me blessed, And when the eye saw, it gave witness of me, |
| 12For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help. | 12Because I delivered the poor who cried for help, And the orphan who had no helper. |
| 13I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy. | 13"The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, And I made the widow's heart sing for joy. |
| 14Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban. | 14"I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban. |
| 15I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. | 15"I was eyes to the blind And feet to the lame. |
| 16I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help. | 16"I was a father to the needy, And I investigated the case which I did not know. |
| 17I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth. | 17"I broke the jaws of the wicked And snatched the prey from his teeth. |
| 18“I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life. | 18"Then I thought, 'I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand. |
| 19For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew. | 19'My root is spread out to the waters, And dew lies all night on my branch. |
| 20New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.’ | 20My glory is ever new with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.' |
| 21“Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak. | 21"To me they listened and waited, And kept silent for my counsel. |
| 22And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them. | 22"After my words they did not speak again, And my speech dropped on them. |
| 23They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain. | 23"They waited for me as for the rain, And opened their mouth as for the spring rain. |
| 24When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them. | 24"I smiled on them when they did not believe, And the light of my face they did not cast down. |
| 25Like a chief, I told them what to do. I lived like a king among his troops and comforted those who mourned. | 25"I chose a way for them and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king among the troops, As one who comforted the mourners. |
| 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. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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