2 "Oh that I were as I was in the months by past, and in the days when God preserved me;
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
2 If only I could be as in months gone by,in the days when God watched over me,
2 "I wish I could go back to how things were a few months ago; when God used to watch over me,
7 When I went through the city unto the gate, and when they set me a chair in the street;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
7 When I went out to the city gateand took my seat in the town square,
7 "Whenever I went out to the city gate, a seat had been reserved for me in the plaza.
8 When the young men, as soon as they saw me, hid themselves, and when the aged arose, and stood up unto me;
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves,And the old men arose and stood.
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
8 the young men saw me and withdrew,while older men stood to their feet.
8 The young men would see me and withdraw, and the aged would rise and stand.
10 when the mighty kept still their voice, and when their tongues cleaved to the roof of their mouths;
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
10 The noblemen’s voices were hushed,and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
10 The voices of the commanders-in-chief were hushed, and their tongues would cling to the roofs of their mouths."
12 "For I delivered the poor when he cried, and the fatherless that wanted help.
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
12 For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help,and the fatherless child who had no one to support him.(E)
12 because I delivered the poor who were crying for help, along with orphans who had no one to help them.
13 He that should have been lost, gave me a good word, and the widow's heart praised me.
13 “The blessing of the one (P)ready to perish came upon me,And I made the (Q)widow’s heart sing for joy.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
13 The dying man blessed me,and I made the widow’s heart rejoice.
13 Those who were about to die blessed me, and I made widows sing for joy.
14 And why? I put upon me righteousness, which covered me as a garment, and equity was my crown.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
14 I clothed myself in righteousness,(F)and it enveloped me;my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.
14 I put on righteousness like clothing; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.
16 I was a father unto the poor, and when I knew not their cause, I sought it out diligently.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
16 I was a father to the needy,and I examined the case of the stranger.
16 I was a father to the needy; I diligently inquired into the case of those I didn't know.
18 "Therefore, I thought verily that I should have died in my nest: and that my days should have been as many as the sands of the sea.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
18 "I used to say: "I will die in my home. I'm going to live as many days as there are grains of sand on the shore.
21 Unto me men gave ear, me they regarded, and with silence they tarried for my counsel.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
21 Men listened to me with expectation,waiting silently for my advice.
21 "They listened and waited for me, as they remained in silence for my counsel.
22 If I had spoken, they would have it none other ways, my words were so well taken among them.
22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
22 After a word from me they did not speak again;my speech settled on them like dew.
22 After I spoke, they had nothing to say, when what I said hit them.
23 They waited for me, as the earth doth for the rain; and gaped upon me, as the ground doth to receive the latter shower.
23 “They waited for me as for the rain,And opened their mouth as for the spring rain.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
23 They waited for me as for the rainand opened their mouths as for spring showers.
23 They waited for me as one waits for rain, as one opens his mouth to drink in a spring rain shower.
24 When I laughed, they knew well it was not earnest; and this testimony of my countenance pleased them nothing at all.
24 “I smiled on them when they did not believe,And the light of my face they did not cast down.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
24 If I smiled at them, they couldn’t believe it;they were thrilled at(c) the light of my countenance.
24 I smiled at them when they had no confidence, and no one could discourage me.
25 When I agreed unto their way, I was the chief, and sat as a king among his servants; and when they were in heaviness, I was their comforter.
25 “I chose a way for them and sat as (AB)chief,And dwelt as a king among the troops,As one who (AC)comforted the mourners.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
25 I directed their course and presided as chief.I lived as a king among his troops,like one who comforts those who mourn. >
25 I set an example of the way to live, as a leader would; I lived like a king among his army; like one who comforts mourners."
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.
International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.
King James Version Public Domain
New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org