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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Job continued to speak. He said,
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1 Job continued his discourse:
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2 "How I long for the good old days! That's when God watched over me.
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2 "How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,
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3 The light of his lamp shone on me. I walked through darkness by his light.
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3 when his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I walked through darkness!
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4 Those were the best days of my life. That's when God's friendship blessed my house.
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4 Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house,
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5 The Mighty One was still with me. My children were all around me.
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5 when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,
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6 The path in front of me was like sweet cream. It was as if the rock poured out olive oil for me.
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6 when my path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil.
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7 "In those days I went to the city gate. I took my seat as a member of the council.
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7 "When I went to the gate of the city and took my seat in the public square,
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8 Young people who saw me stepped to one side. Old people stood up as I approached.
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8 the young men saw me and stepped aside and the old men rose to their feet;
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9 The leaders stopped speaking. They covered their mouths with their hands.
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9 the chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;
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10 The voices of the nobles became quiet. Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
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10 the voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
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11 Everyone who heard me said good things about me. Those who saw me honored me.
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11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me,
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12 That's because I saved poor people who cried out for help. I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.
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12 because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him.
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13 Those who were dying gave me their blessing. I made the hearts of widows sing.
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13 The man who was dying blessed me; I made the widow's heart sing.
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14 I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes. Fairness was my robe and my turban.
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14 I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban.
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15 I was like eyes for those who were blind. I was like feet for those who couldn't walk.
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15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
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16 I was like a father to needy people. I stood up for strangers in court.
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16 I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger.
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17 Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth. But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.
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17 I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth.
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18 "I thought, 'I'll die in my own house. The days of my life will be as many as the grains of sand.
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18 "I thought, 'I will die in my own house, my days as numerous as the grains of sand.
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19 My roots will reach down to the water. The dew will lie all night on my branches.
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19 My roots will reach to the water, and the dew will lie all night on my branches.
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20 I will remain healthy and strong. My bow will stay as good as new in my hand.'
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20 My glory will remain fresh in me, the bow ever new in my hand.'
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21 "People wanted to hear what I had to say. They waited silently for the advice I gave them.
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21 "Men listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel.
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22 After I had spoken, they didn't speak anymore. My words fell gently on their ears.
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22 After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears.
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23 They waited for me just as they would wait for showers. They drank my words just as they would drink the spring rain.
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23 They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain.
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24 When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it. The light of my face lifted their spirits.
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24 When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them.
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25 I chose the way they should go. I sat as their chief. I lived as a king lives among his troops. I was like someone who comforts those who are sad.
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25 I 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.
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| Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Reader's Version Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
