Parallel Bible results for "Job 29"

Job 29

Revised Standard Version RSV

1 And Job again took up his discourse, and said:

2 "Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;

3 when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness;

4 as I was in my autumn days, when the friendship of God was upon my tent;

5 when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

6 when my steps were washed with milk, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

7 When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square,

8 the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose and stood;

9 the princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;

10 the voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved;

12 because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless who had none to help him.

13 The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.

15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.

16 I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know.

17 I broke the fangs of the unrighteous, and made him drop his prey from his teeth.

18 Then I thought, 'I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand,

19 my roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches,

20 my glory fresh with me, and my bow ever new in my hand.'

21 "Men listened to me, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.

22 After I spoke they did not speak again, and my word dropped upon them.

23 They waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence; and the light of my countenance they did not cast down.

25 I chose their way, and sat as chief, and I dwelt like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.

New International Version NIV

1 Job continued his discourse:

2 “How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,

3 when his lamp shone on my head and by his light I walked through darkness!

4 Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house,

5 when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,

6 when my path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil.

7 “When I went to the gate of the city and took my seat in the public square,

8 the young men saw me and stepped aside and the old men rose to their feet;

9 the chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;

10 the voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me,

12 because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them.

13 The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow’s heart sing.

14 I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban.

15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.

16 I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger.

17 I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth.

18 “I thought, ‘I will die in my own house, my days as numerous as the grains of sand.

19 My roots will reach to the water, and the dew will lie all night on my branches.

20 My glory will not fade; the bow will be ever new in my hand.’

21 “People listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel.

22 After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears.

23 They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain.

24 When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them.

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.