Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Living Translation NLT
1 Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:
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Job continued speaking:
2 Who will grant me, that I might be according to the months past, according to the days in which God kept me?
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“I long for the years gone by when God took care of me,
3 When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in darkness?
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when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness.
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when God was secretly in my tabernacle?
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When I was in my prime, God’s friendship was felt in my home.
5 When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me?
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The Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me.
6 When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil?
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My steps were awash in cream, and the rocks gushed olive oil for me.
7 When I went out to the gate of the city, and in the street they prepared me a chair?
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“Those were the days when I went to the city gate and took my place among the honored leaders.
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the old men rose up and stood.
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The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.
9 The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth.
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The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths.
10 The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.
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The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect.
11 The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave witness to me:
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“All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me.
12 Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the fatherless, that had no helper.
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For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I comforted the heart of the widow.
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I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
14 I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment, as with a robe and a diadem.
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Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban.
15 I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame.
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I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently.
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I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help.
17 I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey.
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I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth.
18 And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm tree shall multiply my days.
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“I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life.
19 My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.
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For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew.
20 My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.
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New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.’
21 They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive held their peace at my counsel.
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“Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak.
22 To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them.
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And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them.
23 They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for a latter shower.
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They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.
24 If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the light of my countenance fell not on earth.
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When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them.
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.
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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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