Parallel Bible results for "job 29"

Job 29

The Bible in Basic English BBE

1 And Job again took up the word and said,

2 If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!

3 When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.

4 As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;

5 While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;

6 When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.

7 When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,

8 The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;

9 The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;

10 The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.

11 For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;

12 For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.

13 The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.

14 I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.

15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.

16 I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.

17 By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.

18 Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;

19 My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,

20 My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.

21 Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.

22 After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;

23 They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.

24 I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.

25 I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...

Good News Translation GNT

1 Job began speaking again.

2 If only my life could once again be as it was when God watched over me.

3 God was always with me then and gave me light as I walked through the darkness.

4 Those were the days when I was prosperous, and the friendship of God protected my home.

5 Almighty God was with me then, and I was surrounded by all my children.

6 My cows and goats gave plenty of milk, and my olive trees grew in the rockiest soil.

7 Whenever the city elders met and I took my place among them,

8 young men stepped aside as soon as they saw me, and old men stood up to show me respect.

9 The leaders of the people would stop talking;

10 even the most important men kept silent.

11 Everyone who saw me or heard of me had good things to say about what I had done.

12 When the poor cried out, I helped them; I gave help to orphans who had nowhere to turn.

13 People who were in deepest misery praised me, and I helped widows find security.

14 I have always acted justly and fairly.

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

16 I was like a father to the poor and took the side of strangers in trouble.

17 I destroyed the power of cruel men and rescued their victims.

18 I always expected to live a long life and to die at home in comfort.

19 I was like a tree whose roots always have water and whose branches are wet with dew.

20 Everyone was always praising me, and my strength never failed me.

21 When I gave advice, people were silent and listened carefully to what I said;

22 they had nothing to add when I had finished. My words sank in like drops of rain;

23 everyone welcomed them just as farmers welcome rain in spring.

24 I smiled on them when they had lost confidence; my cheerful face encouraged them.

25 I took charge and made the decisions; I led them as a king leads his troops, and gave them comfort in their despair.