The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 Job now resumed his response:
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Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2 "Oh, how I long for the good old days, when God took such very good care of me.
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Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
3 He always held a lamp before me and I walked through the dark by its light.
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When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
4 Oh, how I miss those golden years when God's friendship graced my home,
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As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
5 When the Mighty One was still by my side and my children were all around me,
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When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
6 When everything was going my way, and nothing seemed too difficult.
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When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7 "When I walked downtown and sat with my friends in the public square,
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When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
8 Young and old greeted me with respect; I was honored by everyone in town.
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The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
9 When I spoke, everyone listened;
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The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 they hung on my every word.
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The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 People who knew me spoke well of me; my reputation went ahead of me.
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When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12 I was known for helping people in trouble and standing up for those who were down on their luck.
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Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13 The dying blessed me, and the bereaved were cheered by my visits.
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The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 All my dealings with people were good. I was known for being fair to everyone I met.
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I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame,
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I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 Father to the needy, and champion of abused aliens.
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I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17 I grabbed street thieves by the scruff of the neck and made them give back what they'd stolen.
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And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
18 I thought, 'I'll die peacefully in my own bed, grateful for a long and full life,
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Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 A life deep-rooted and well-watered, a life limber and dew-fresh,
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My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20 My soul suffused with glory and my body robust until the day I die.'
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My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21 "Men and women listened when I spoke, hung expectantly on my every word.
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Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22 After I spoke, they'd be quiet, taking it all in.
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After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
23 They welcomed my counsel like spring rain, drinking it all in.
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And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it; their faces lit up, their troubles took wing!
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If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 I was their leader, establishing the mood and setting the pace by which they lived. Where I led, they followed.
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I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.