Parallel Bible results for "job 29"

Job 29

RHE

MSG

1 Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:
1 Job now resumed his response:
2 Who will grant me, that I might be according to the months past, according to the days in which God kept me?
2 "Oh, how I long for the good old days, when God took such very good care of me.
3 When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in darkness?
3 He always held a lamp before me and I walked through the dark by its light.
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when God was secretly in my tabernacle?
4 Oh, how I miss those golden years when God's friendship graced my home,
5 When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me?
5 When the Mighty One was still by my side and my children were all around me,
6 When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil?
6 When everything was going my way, and nothing seemed too difficult.
7 When I went out to the gate of the city, and in the street they prepared me a chair?
7 "When I walked downtown and sat with my friends in the public square,
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the old men rose up and stood.
8 Young and old greeted me with respect; I was honored by everyone in town.
9 The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth.
9 When I spoke, everyone listened;
10 The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.
10 they hung on my every word.
11 The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave witness to me:
11 People who knew me spoke well of me; my reputation went ahead of me.
12 Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the fatherless, that had no helper.
12 I was known for helping people in trouble and standing up for those who were down on their luck.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I comforted the heart of the widow.
13 The dying blessed me, and the bereaved were cheered by my visits.
14 I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment, as with a robe and a diadem.
14 All my dealings with people were good. I was known for being fair to everyone I met.
15 I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame.
15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame,
16 I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently.
16 Father to the needy, and champion of abused aliens.
17 I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey.
17 I grabbed street thieves by the scruff of the neck and made them give back what they'd stolen.
18 And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm tree shall multiply my days.
18 I thought, 'I'll die peacefully in my own bed, grateful for a long and full life,
19 My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.
19 A life deep-rooted and well-watered, a life limber and dew-fresh,
20 My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.
20 My soul suffused with glory and my body robust until the day I die.'
21 They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive held their peace at my counsel.
21 "Men and women listened when I spoke, hung expectantly on my every word.
22 To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them.
22 After I spoke, they'd be quiet, taking it all in.
23 They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for a latter shower.
23 They welcomed my counsel like spring rain, drinking it all in.
24 If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the light of my countenance fell not on earth.
24 When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it; their faces lit up, their troubles took wing!
25 If I had a mind to go to them, I sat first, and when I sat as a king, with his army standing about him, yet I was a comforter of them that mourned.
25 I was their leader, establishing the mood and setting the pace by which they lived. Where I led, they followed.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.
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.