Job 29:18-25
Job 29:7-25 The Message (MSG)
“When I walked downtown and sat with my friends in the public square, Young and old greeted me with respect; I was honored by everyone in town. When I spoke, everyone listened; they hung on my every word. People who knew me spoke well of me; my reputation went ahead of me. I was known for helping people in trouble and standing up for those who were down on their luck. The dying blessed me, and the bereaved were cheered by my visits. All my dealings with people were good. I was known for being fair to everyone I met. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame, Father to the needy, and champion of abused aliens. I grabbed street thieves by the scruff of the neck and made them give back what they’d stolen. I thought, ‘I’ll die peacefully in my own bed, grateful for a long and full life, A life deep-rooted and well-watered, a life limber and dew-fresh, My soul soaked through with glory and my body robust until the day I die.’ “Men and women listened when I spoke, hung expectantly on my every word. After I spoke, they’d be quiet, taking it all in. They welcomed my counsel like spring rain, drinking it all in. When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it; their faces lit up, their troubles took wing! I was their leader, establishing the mood and setting the pace by which they lived. Where I led, they followed.”
Job 29:18-25 King James Version (KJV)
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand. My root was spread out by the waters, And the dew lay all night upon my branch. My glory was fresh in me, And my bow was renewed in my hand. Unto me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence at my counsel. After my words they spake not again; And my speech dropped upon them. And they waited for me as for the rain; And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. If I laughed on them, they believed it not; And the light of my countenance they cast not down. I chose out their way, and sat chief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners.
Job 29:18-25 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand. My root is spread out to the waters, And dew lies all night on my branch. My glory is ever new with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.’ “To me they listened and waited, And kept silent for my counsel. After my words they did not speak again, And my speech dropped on them. They waited for me as for the rain, And opened their mouth as for the spring rain. I smiled on them when they did not believe, And the light of my face they did not cast down. I chose a way for them and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king among the troops, As one who comforted the mourners.
Job 29:18-25 New Century Version (NCV)
“I thought, ‘I will live for as many days as there are grains of sand, and I will die in my own house. My roots will reach down to the water. The dew will lie on the branches all night. New honors will come to me continually, and I will always have great strength.’ “People listened to me carefully and waited quietly for my advice. After I finished speaking, they spoke no more. My words fell very gently on their ears. They waited for me as they would for rain and drank in my words like spring rain. I smiled at them when they doubted, and my approval was important to them. I chose the way for them and was their leader. I lived like a king among his army, like a person who comforts sad people.
Job 29:18-25 American Standard Version (ASV)
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand: My root is spread out to the waters, And the dew lieth all night upon my branch: My glory is fresh in me, And my bow is renewed in my hand. Unto me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel. After my words they spake not again; And my speech distilled upon them. And they waited for me as for the rain; And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. I smiled on them, when they had no confidence; And the light of my countenance they cast not down. I chose out their way, and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners.
Job 29:18-25 New International Version (NIV)
“I thought, ‘I will die in my own house, my days as numerous as the grains of sand. My roots will reach to the water, and the dew will lie all night on my branches. My glory will not fade; the bow will be ever new in my hand.’ “People listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel. After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears. They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain. When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them. I chose the way for them and sat as their chief; I dwelt as a king among his troops; I was like one who comforts mourners.
Job 29:18-25 New King James Version (NKJV)
“Then I said, ‘I shall die in my nest, And multiply my days as the sand. My root is spread out to the waters, And the dew lies all night on my branch. My glory is fresh within me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.’ “Men listened to me and waited, And kept silence for my counsel. After my words they did not speak again, And my speech settled on them as dew. They waited for me as for the rain, And they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain. If I mocked at them, they did not believe it, And the light of my countenance they did not cast down. I chose the way for them, and sat as chief; So I dwelt as a king in the army, As one who comforts mourners.
Job 29:18-25 Amplified Bible (AMP)
“Then I said, ‘I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand. ‘My root is spread out and open to the waters, And the dew lies all night upon my branch. ‘My glory and honor are fresh in me [being constantly renewed], And my bow gains [ever] new strength in my hand.’ ¶“They listened to me and waited And kept silent for my counsel. “After I spoke, they did not speak again, And my speech dropped upon them [like a refreshing shower]. “They waited for me [and for my words] as for the rain, And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain. “I smiled at them when they did not believe, And they did not diminish the light of my face. “I chose a way for them and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king among his soldiers, As one who comforts mourners.
Job 29:18-25 New Living Translation (NLT)
“I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life. For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew. New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.’ “Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak. And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them. They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain. When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them. Like a chief, I told them what to do. I lived like a king among his troops and comforted those who mourned.
Job 29:18-25 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand, my roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches, my glory fresh with me, and my bow ever new in my hand.’ “Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel. After I spoke they did not speak again, and my word dropped upon them. They waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain. I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and the light of my face they did not cast down. I chose their way and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.