Parallel Bible results for "job 29"

Job 29

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.

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.