New Living Translation NLT
Common English Bible CEB
1 Job continued speaking:
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Job took up his subject again:
2 “I long for the years gone by when God took care of me,
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Oh, that life was like it used to be, like days when God watched over me;
3 when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness.
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when his lamp shone on my head, I walked by his light in the dark;
4 When I was in my prime, God’s friendship was felt in my home.
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when I was in my prime; when God's counsel was in my tent;
5 The Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me.
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when the Almighty was with me, my children around me;
6 My steps were awash in cream, and the rocks gushed olive oil for me.
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when my steps were washed with cream and a rock poured out pools of oil for me.
7 “Those were the days when I went to the city gate and took my place among the honored leaders.
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When I went out to the city gate, took my seat in the square,
8 The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.
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the young saw me and drew back; the old rose and stood;
9 The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths.
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princes restrained speech, put their hand on their mouth;
10 The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect.
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the voices of officials were hushed, their tongue stuck to their palate.
11 “All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me.
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Indeed, the ear that heard blessed me; the eye that looked commended me,
12 For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help.
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because I rescued the weak who cried out, the orphans who lacked help.
13 I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
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The blessing of the perishing reached me; I made the widow's heart sing;
14 Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban.
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I put on justice, and it clothed me, righteousness as my coat and turban;
15 I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
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I was eyes to the blind, feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help.
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I was a father to the needy; the case I didn't know, I examined.
17 I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth.
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I shattered the fangs of the wicked, rescued prey from their teeth.
18 “I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life.
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I thought, I'll die in my nest, multiply days like sand,
19 For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew.
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my roots opening to water, dew lingering on my branches,
20 New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.’
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my honor newly with me, my bow ever successful in my hand.
21 “Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak.
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People listened to me and waited, were silent for my advice.
22 And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them.
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After my speech, they didn't respond. My words fell gently on them;
23 They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.
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they waited for me as for rain, opened their mouth as for spring rain.
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them.
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I smiled on them; they couldn't believe it. They never showed me disfavor.
25 Like a chief, I told them what to do. I lived like a king among his troops and comforted those who mourned.
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I decided their path, sat as chief. I lived like a king with his troops, like one who comforts mourners.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible