Job’s Former Blessings 1 UDB Job spoke again and said this: BSB BSB: And Job continued his discourse:
2 UDB "I wish that I could be as I was previously during the years when God took care of me. BSB BSB: “How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,
3 UDB During those years, it was as though God's lamp shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness. BSB BSB: when His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,
4 UDB At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, he protected where I lived. BSB BSB: when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent,
5 UDB Almighty God was with me during those years when all my children were around me. BSB BSB: when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,
6 UDB My herds provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my servants pressed the olives. BSB BSB: when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 UDB Whenever I went to the place where the elders gathered at the city gate, I sat down with them, BSB BSB: When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,
8 UDB and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside respectfully, and the old men also stood respectfully. BSB BSB: the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.
9 UDB The leaders of the people used to stop talking, BSB BSB: The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 UDB and even the most important men became quiet and stopped talking in order to hear me speak to them. BSB BSB: The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11 UDB When they all heard what I told them, they said good things about me. When they saw me, they always praised me BSB BSB: For those who heard me called me blessed, and those who saw me commended me,
12 UDB because I had helped those who were poor when they cried out for help, and because I aided those who had no fathers, those who had no one else to help them. BSB BSB: because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.
13 UDB Those who were suffering and about to die praised me, and I caused widows to sing joyfully, because I helped them. BSB BSB: The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 UDB I always acted justly; my actions were like a robe that I wore and like a turban that was wrapped around my head. BSB BSB: I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.
15 UDB It was as though I myself saw for blind people and walked for people who were lame. BSB BSB: I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame.
16 UDB I was like a father to the poor people, and in the courts I defended those who were strangers to me. BSB BSB: I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.
17 UDB I made wicked people stop oppressing others; it was like someone who breaks the teeth of wild animals and forces them to drop their victims from their teeth. BSB BSB: I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.
18 UDB At that time I thought, 'Surely I will live in peace until I am very old, and I will die at home with my family. BSB BSB: So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.
19 UDB I am like a tree whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night. BSB BSB: My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.
20 UDB People always honor me, and I am always strong like a new bow.' BSB BSB: My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 UDB When I spoke, people waited to hear what I would say; they remained silent until I advised them what they should do. BSB BSB: Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.
22 UDB After I finished speaking, they did not say anymore; it was as though my words fell on their ears like drops of rain. BSB BSB: After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.
23 UDB They waited for me to speak as they wait for rain; they liked what I said as farmers appreciate the final rain in the spring before the dry season. BSB BSB: They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
24 UDB When they were sad, I smiled at them to encourage them; they became encouraged when they saw my cheerful face. BSB BSB: If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.
25 UDB I was their leader, and I decided what things would be good for them to do; I was among them like a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts others who are mourning." 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.