God's New Revelations

The Book of Job

⭑ Unlocked Dynamic Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞

- Chapter 29 -

Job's summary defense

1
Job spoke again and said this:
2
“I wish that I could be as I was previously during the years when God took care of me.
3
During those years, it was as though God’s lamp shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
4
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, he protected where I lived.
5
God Almighty was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6
My herds provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my servants pressed the olives.
7
Whenever I went to the place where the elders gathered at the city gate, I sat down with them,
8
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside respectfully, and the old men also stood respectfully.
9
The leaders of the people used to stop talking,
10
and even the most important men became quiet and stopped talking in order to hear me speak to them.
11
When they all heard what I told them, they said good things about me. When they saw me, they always praised me
12
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.
13
Those who were suffering and about to die praised me, and I caused widows to sing joyfully, because I helped them.
14
I always acted justly; my actions were like a robe that I wore and like a turban that was wrapped around my head.
15
It was as though I myself saw for blind people and walked for people who were lame.
16
I was like a father to the poor people, and in the courts I defended those who were strangers to me.
17
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.
18
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.
19
I am like a tree whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20
People always honor me, and I am always strong like a new bow.’
21
When I spoke, people waited to hear what I would say; they remained silent until I advised them what they should do.
22
After I finished speaking, they did not say anymore; it was as though my words fell on their ears like drops of rain.
23
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.
24
When they were sad, I smiled at them to encourage them; they became encouraged when they saw my cheerful face.
25
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.”
Copyright © Door43 - licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Job's summary defense

1
Job again took up his parable, and said,
2
“Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
3
when his lamp shone on my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,
4
as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was in my tent,
5
when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
6
when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
7
when I went out to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.
8
The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
9
The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10
The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11
For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it commended me,
12
because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had no one to help him,
13
the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
15
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
16
I was a father to the needy. I researched the cause of him whom I didn’t know.
17
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
18
Then I said, ‘I will die in my own house, I will count my days as the sand.
19
My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
20
My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.’
21
“Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
22
After my words they didn’t speak again. My speech fell on them.
23
They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
24
I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.
25
I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞