King James Bible | International Standard Version |
1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, | 1Then Job continued with his discourse: |
2Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved 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 candle shined upon my head, and when 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 the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; | 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 about me; | 5"The Almighty was still with me back then, and my children were still around me. |
6When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers 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 through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! | 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 hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. | 8The young men would see me and withdraw, and the aged would rise and stand. |
9The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. | 9Nobles would refrain from speaking, covering their mouths with their hands. |
10The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved 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 me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: | 11"When people heard me speak, they blessed me; when people saw me, they approved me, |
12Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that 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 that was ready 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 judgment was as a robe and a diadem. | 14I put on righteousness like clothing; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban. |
15I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. | 15I served as eyes for the blind and feet for 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; I diligently inquired into the case of those I didn't know. |
17And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. | 17I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop the prey." |
18Then I said, 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 root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. | 19My roots have spread out and have found water, and dew settles at night on my branches. |
20My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. | 20My glory renews for me and my bow is as good as new in my hand.' |
21Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. | 21"They listened and waited for me, as they remained in silence for my counsel. |
22After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. | 22After I spoke, they had nothing to say, when what I said hit them. |
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 one waits for rain, as one opens his mouth to drink in a spring rain shower. |
24If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. | 24I smiled at them when they had no confidence, and no one could discourage me. |
25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the 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." |
King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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