| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, | 1Job continued his discourse, saying: |
| 2Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; | 2If only I could be as in months gone by, in the days when God watched over me, |
| 3When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; | 3when His lamp shone above my head, and I walked through darkness by His light! |
| 4As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; | 4I would be as I was in the days of my youth when God's friendship rested on my tent, |
| 5When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; | 5when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, |
| 6When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers 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 gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! | 7When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the town square, |
| 8The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. | 8the young men saw me and withdrew, while older men stood to their feet. |
| 9The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. | 9City officials stopped talking and covered their mouths with their hands. |
| 10The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. | 10The noblemen's voices were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. |
| 11When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: | 11When they heard me, they blessed me, and when they saw me, they spoke well of me. |
| 12Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. | 12For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help, and the fatherless child who had no one to support him. |
| 13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. | 13The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow's heart rejoice. |
| 14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. | 14I clothed myself in righteousness, and it enveloped me; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban. |
| 15I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. | 15I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. |
| 16I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. | 16I was a father to the needy, and I examined the case of the stranger. |
| 17And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. | 17I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth. |
| 18Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. | 18So I thought: I will die in my own nest and multiply my days as the sand. |
| 19My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. | 19My roots will have access to water, and the dew will rest on my branches all night. |
| 20My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. | 20My strength will be refreshed within me, and my bow will be renewed in my hand. |
| 21Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. | 21Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my advice. |
| 22After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. | 22After a word from me they did not speak again; my speech settled on them like dew. |
| 23And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. | 23They waited for me as for the rain and opened their mouths as for spring showers. |
| 24If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. | 24If I smiled at them, they couldn't believe it; they were thrilled at the light of my countenance. |
| 25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth 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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