Job 29
New Life Version
Job Tells of His Past Days
29 Then Job spoke again and said, 2 “If only I could be now as I was in the months past when God watched over me! 3 His lamp shined over my head then and by His light I walked through darkness. 4 Those days were my best days when God was my friend watching over my tent. 5 The All-powerful was still with me, and my children were around me. 6 My path was washed with milk, and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me. 7 When I went to the city gate and took my place with the leaders of the city, 8 the young men saw me and let me go by. The old men rose and stood. 9 The leaders stopped talking, and put their hands on their mouths. 10 The voices of the rulers were quiet. Their tongues held to the roof of their mouths. 11 Those who heard me, honored me. Those who saw me, respected me, 12 because I helped the poor man when he cried for help and the child without parents who had no one to help him. 13 Good came to me from the man who was dying. And I made the heart of the woman whose husband had died sing for joy. 14 I put on what was right and good, and it clothed me. The right things done were my coat and head-covering. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the man who could not walk. 16 I was a father to those in need. And I helped those I did not know who had a need. 17 I broke the jaws of the sinful, and took from their teeth what they had taken. 18 Then I thought, ‘I will die in my nest. My days will be as many as the sand. 19 My roots go to the water. As the water is on the grass in the early morning, it will be all night on my branches. 20 My honor is always new to me, and my bow is new in my hand.’
21 “Men listened to me and waited. They were quiet so they could hear my words of wisdom. 22 After I spoke, they did not speak again. My words stayed with them. 23 They waited for me as for rain. And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain. 24 I looked at them with joy when they were not sure of themselves, and the light of my face gave them comfort. 25 I decided the way for them and sat as their leader. I lived as a king among his army, and like one who gives comfort to those in sorrow.
Job 29
New International Reader's Version
Job’s Final Speech
29 Job continued to speak. He said,
2 “How I long for the times when things were better!
That’s when God watched over me.
3 The light of his lamp shone on me.
I walked through darkness by his light.
4 Those were the best days of my life.
That’s when God’s friendship blessed my house.
5 The Mighty One was still with me.
My children were all around me.
6 The path in front of me was like sweet cream.
It was as if the rock poured out olive oil for me.
7 “In those days I went to the city gate.
I took my seat as a member of the council.
8 Young people who saw me stepped to one side.
Old people stood up as I approached.
9 The leaders stopped speaking.
They covered their mouths with their hands.
10 The voices of the nobles became quiet.
Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11 Everyone who heard me said good things about me.
Those who saw me honored me.
12 That’s because I saved poor people who cried out for help.
I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.
13 Those who were dying gave me their blessing.
I made the hearts of widows sing.
14 I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes.
Fairness was my robe and my turban.
15 I was like eyes for those who were blind.
I was like feet for those who couldn’t walk.
16 I was like a father to needy people.
I stood up for strangers in court.
17 Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth.
But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.
18 “I thought, ‘I’ll die in my own house.
The days of my life will be as many as the grains of sand.
19 My roots will reach down to the water.
The dew will lie all night on my branches.
20 I will remain healthy and strong.
My bow will stay as good as new in my hand.’
21 “People wanted to hear what I had to say.
They waited silently for the advice I gave them.
22 After I had spoken, they didn’t speak anymore.
My words fell gently on their ears.
23 They waited for me just as they would wait for rain showers.
They drank my words just as they would drink the spring rain.
24 When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it.
The light of my face lifted their spirits.
25 I chose the way they should go. I sat as their chief.
I lived as a king lives among his troops.
I was like someone who comforts those who are sad.
Job 29
nuBibeln (Swedish Contemporary Bible)
Jobs sista tal
29 Job fortsatte sitt tal:
2 Jag längtar tillbaka till månader som gått,
när Gud vakade över mig,
3 när hans lampa sken över mig,
när jag vandrade i hans ljus genom mörkret,
4 när jag var i min krafts tid,
när Guds vänskap fanns i mitt hus,
5 när den Väldige alltid var med mig,
när mina barn fanns runt omkring mig
6 när jag vadade i grädde,
och ur klippan rann floder av olja fram åt mig.
7 På den tiden när jag gick ut till stadsporten
och intog min plats på torget,
8 såg de yngre mig och gick åt sidan,
och de äldre reste sig av respekt för mig.
9 Furstar valde att inte yttra sig
och satte handen för munnen.
10 Furstarnas röst tystnade,
och deras tunga fastnade i gommen.
11 Alla som lyssnade till mig talade väl om mig,
alla som hörde mig stämde in i vad jag sa,
12 för jag räddade den fattige som ropade,
och den faderlöse, som inte hade någon som hjälpte.
13 Den döende välsignade mig,
och jag fick änkan att sjunga av glädje.
14 Rättfärdigheten var den dräkt jag tog på mig,
och rättvisan min mantel och huvudbonad.
15 Jag var den blindes ögon
och den lames fötter.
16 Jag var en far för de fattiga
och tog mig an den okändes sak.
17 Jag krossade käkarna på illgärningsmannen
och ryckte rovet från hans tänder.
18 Jag tänkte:
”Jag ska dö stilla och lugnt i mitt eget bo,
mina dagar ska bli många som sandkornen.
19 Min rot når till vatten,
nattens dagg vilar på mina grenar.
20 Min ära förnyas,
och bågen i min hand förblir ny.”
21 Förväntansfullt lyssnade man till mig då,
väntade tyst på mina råd.
22 När jag hade sagt mitt hade ingen något att tillägga,
för mina ord föll väl för dem.
23 De väntade på mig som på regn
och drack törstigt in varje ord som vårregn.
24 När jag log mot dem,
trodde de det knappt,
men när mitt ansikte lyste
fick de nytt mod.[a]
25 Jag valde en väg åt dem
och satt som deras hövding.
Jag levde som en kung bland sina trupper
och var som en tröstare för dem som sörjde.
Footnotes
- 29:24 Grundtextens innebörd är osäker.
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Swedish Contemporary Bible (nuBibeln) Copyright © 2015 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.