Job’s Former Blessings 1 Brenton And Job continued and said in his parable, BSB BSB: And Job continued his discourse:
2 Brenton Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me! BSB BSB: “How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,
3 Brenton As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness. BSB BSB: when His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,
4 Brenton As when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.BSB BSB: when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent,
5 Brenton When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me; BSB BSB: when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,
6 Brenton when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk. BSB BSB: when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 Brenton When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets. BSB BSB: When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,
8 Brenton The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up. BSB BSB: the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.
9 Brenton And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth. BSB BSB: The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 Brenton And they that heard me blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat. BSB BSB: The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11 Brenton For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside. BSB BSB: For those who heard me called me blessed, and those who saw me commended me,
12 Brenton For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper. BSB BSB: because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.
13 Brenton Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me. BSB BSB: The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 Brenton Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle. BSB BSB: I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.
15 Brenton I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame. BSB BSB: I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame.
16 Brenton I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not. BSB BSB: I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.
17 Brenton And I broke the jaw-teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth. BSB BSB: I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.
18 Brenton And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm-tree; I shall live a long while. BSB BSB: So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.
19 Brenton My root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.BSB BSB: My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.
20 Brenton My glory was fresh in me, and my bow prospered in his hand. BSB BSB: My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 Brenton Men heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.BSB BSB: Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.
22 Brenton At my word they spoke not again, and they were very glad whenever I spoke to them. BSB BSB: After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.
23 Brenton As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they waited for my speech. BSB BSB: They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
24 Brenton Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe it ; and the light of my face has not failed. BSB BSB: If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.
25 Brenton I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners. BSB BSB: I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.