Job's Final Defense

1 And Job again took up his (A)discourse and said,

1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

1 Job continued his discourse, saying:

1 Then Job continued with his discourse:

1 And Job again took up his discussion and said,

2 “Oh that I were as in months gone by,As in the days when God (B)watched over me;

2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

2 If only I could be as in months gone by,in the days when God watched over me,

2 "I wish I could go back to how things were a few months ago; when God used to watch over me,

2 “Oh, that I were as in the months of old,As in the days when God watched over me,(A)

3 When (C)His lamp shone over my head,And (D)by His light I walked through darkness;

3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

3 when His lamp shone above my head,and I walked through darkness by His light!(A)

3 when his lamp used to shine over my head, so I could walk through the dark,

3 When His lamp shone upon my headAnd by His light I walked through darkness;

4 As I was in (a)the prime of my days,When the (b)(E)friendship of God was over my tent;

4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

4 I would be as I was in the days of my youthwhen God’s friendship(B) rested on my tent,

4 like when I was in my prime and God trusted me with his secrets!

4 As I was in the prime of my days,When the friendship and counsel of God were over my tent,

5 When (c)the Almighty was yet with me,And my children were around me;

5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

5 when the Almighty was still with meand my children were around me,

5 "The Almighty was still with me back then, and my children were still around me.

5 When (a)the Almighty was still with meAnd my boys were around me,

6 When my steps were bathed in (F)butter,And the (G)rock poured out for me streams of oil!

6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

6 when my feet were bathed in creamand the rock(C) poured out streams of oil for me!

6 I was successful wherever I went, and even the rocks poured out streams of olive oil for me."

6 When my steps [through rich pastures] were washed with butter and cream [from my livestock],And the rock poured out for me streams of oil [from my olive groves].

7 “When I went out to (H)the gate of the city,When I (d)took my seat in the square,

7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

7 When I went out to the city gateand took my seat in the town square,

7 "Whenever I went out to the city gate, a seat had been reserved for me in the plaza.

7 “When I went out to the gate of the city,When I took my seat [as a city father] in the square,

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves,And the old men arose and stood.

8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

8 the young men saw me and withdrew,while older men stood to their feet.

8 The young men would see me and withdraw, and the aged would rise and stand.

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves,The aged arose and stood [respectfully];

9 “The princes (I)stopped talkingAnd (J)put their hands on their mouths;

9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

9 City officials stopped talkingand covered their mouths with their hands.(D)

9 Nobles would refrain from speaking, covering their mouths with their hands.

9 The princes stopped talkingAnd put their hands on their mouths;

10 The voice of the nobles was (e)(K)hushed,And their (L)tongue stuck to their palate.

10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

10 The noblemen’s voices were hushed,and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

10 The voices of the commanders-in-chief were hushed, and their tongues would cling to the roofs of their mouths."

10 The voices of the nobles were hushed,And their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11 “For when (M)the ear heard, it called me blessed,And when the eye saw, it gave witness of me,

11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

11 When they heard me, they blessed me,and when they saw me, they spoke well of me.(a)

11 "When people heard me speak, they blessed me; when people saw me, they approved me,

11 “For when an ear heard [my name mentioned], it called me happy and fortunate;And when an eye saw [me], it testified for me [approvingly],

12 Because I delivered (N)the poor who cried for help,And the (O)orphan who had no helper.

12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

12 For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help,and the fatherless child who had no one to support him.(E)

12 because I delivered the poor who were crying for help, along with orphans who had no one to help them.

12 Because I rescued the poor who cried for help,And the orphan who had no helper.

13 “The blessing of the one (P)ready to perish came upon me,And I made the (Q)widow’s heart sing for joy.

13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

13 The dying man blessed me,and I made the widow’s heart rejoice.

13 Those who were about to die blessed me, and I made widows sing for joy.

13 “The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me,And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

14 “I (R)put on righteousness, and it clothed me;My justice was like a robe and a turban.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

14 I clothed myself in righteousness,(F)and it enveloped me;my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.

14 I put on righteousness like clothing; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.

14 “I put on (b)righteousness, and it clothed me;My justice was like a robe and a turban!

15 “I was (S)eyes to the blindAnd feet to the lame.

15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

15 I was eyes to the blindand feet to the lame.(G)

15 I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.

15 “I was eyes to the blindAnd I was feet to the lame.

16 “I was a father to (T)the needy,And I investigated the case which I did not know.

16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

16 I was a father to the needy,and I examined the case of the stranger.

16 I was a father to the needy; I diligently inquired into the case of those I didn't know.

16 “I was a father to the needy;I investigated the case I did not know [and assured justice].

17 “I (U)broke the jaws of the wickedAnd snatched the prey from his teeth.

17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

17 I shattered the fangs of the unjust(H)and snatched the prey from his teeth.

17 I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop the prey."

17 “And I smashed the jaws of the wickedAnd snatched the prey from his teeth.

18 “Then I (f)thought, ‘I shall die (g)in my nest,And I shall multiply my days as the sand.

18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

18 So I thought: I will die in my own nestand multiply my days as the sand.(b)

18 "I used to say: "I will die in my home. I'm going to live as many days as there are grains of sand on the shore.

18 “Then I said, ‘I shall die in my nest,And I shall multiply my days as the sand.

19 ‘My (V)root is spread out to the waters,And (W)dew lies all night on my branch.

19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

19 My roots will have access to water,(I)and the dew will rest on my branches all night.

19 My roots have spread out and have found water, and dew settles at night on my branches.

19 ‘My root is spread out and open to the waters,And the dew lies all night upon my branch.

20 ‘My glory is ever new with me,And my (X)bow is renewed in my hand.’

20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

20 My strength will be refreshed within me,and my bow will be renewed in my hand.(J)

20 My glory renews for me and my bow is as good as new in my hand.'

20 ‘My glory and honor are fresh in me [being constantly renewed],And my bow gains [ever] new strength in my hand.’

21 “To me (Y)they listened and waited,And kept silent for my counsel.

21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.

21 Men listened to me with expectation,waiting silently for my advice.

21 "They listened and waited for me, as they remained in silence for my counsel.

21 “They listened to me and waitedAnd kept silent for my counsel.

22 “After my words they did not (Z)speak again,And (AA)my speech dropped on them.

22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

22 After a word from me they did not speak again;my speech settled on them like dew.

22 After I spoke, they had nothing to say, when what I said hit them.

22 “After I spoke, they did not speak again,And my speech dropped upon them [like a refreshing shower].

23 “They waited for me as for the rain,And opened their mouth as for the spring rain.

23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

23 They waited for me as for the rainand opened their mouths as for spring showers.

23 They waited for me as one waits for rain, as one opens his mouth to drink in a spring rain shower.

23 “They waited for me [and for my words] as for the rain,And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

24 “I smiled on them when they did not believe,And the light of my face they did not cast down.

24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

24 If I smiled at them, they couldn’t believe it;they were thrilled at(c) the light of my countenance.

24 I smiled at them when they had no confidence, and no one could discourage me.

24 “I smiled at them when they did not believe,And they did not diminish the light of my face.

25 “I chose a way for them and sat as (AB)chief,And dwelt as a king among the troops,As one who (AC)comforted the mourners.

25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

25 I directed their course and presided as chief.I lived as a king among his troops,like one who comforts those who mourn. >

25 I set an example of the way to live, as a leader would; I lived like a king among his army; like one who comforts mourners."

25 “I chose a way for them and sat as chief,And dwelt as a king among his soldiers,As one who comforts mourners.

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