Job's Former Days of Honor
Job 29
Job recalls the months when God watched over him and he was honored in the city, aiding the poor, the fatherless, and the widow. Young and old alike heeded him then, and he expected to live long in comfort and respect.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonJOB still further continued his speech, with this exordium:
BrentonAnd Job continued and said in his parable,
GreekἜτι δὲ προσθεὶς Ἰὼβ εἶπε τῷ προοιμίῳ,
KJVMoreover Job continued his parable, and said,
JPSAnd Job again took up his parable, and said:
2
ThomsonO! that I were reinstated as in times past! As in the days of the months when God preserved me
BrentonOh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!
GreekΤίς ἄν με θείη κατὰ μῆνα ἔμπροσθεν ἡμερῶν, ὧν με ὁ Θεὸς ἐφύλαξεν;
KJVOh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
JPSOh that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me;
3
Thomsonwhen His lamp shined over my head, when by His light I walked through darkness,
BrentonAs when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.
GreekὩς ὅτε ηὔγει ὁ λύχνος αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς μου, ὅτε τῷ φωτὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπορευόμην ἐν σκότει·
KJVWhen his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
JPSWhen His lamp shined above my head, And by His light I walked through darkness;
4
Thomsonwhen I was making my way steadfastly—when God watched over my family
BrentonAs when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.
GreekὍτε ἤμην ἐπιβρίθων ὁδοὺς, ὅτε ὁ Θεὸς ἐπισκοπὴν ἐποιεῖτο τοῦ οἴκου μου·
KJV—
JPS—
5
Thomsonwhen I was thick-set with branches, and my servants were around me—
BrentonWhen I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;
GreekὍτε ἤμην ὑλώδης λίαν, κύκλῳ δέ μου οἱ παῖδες·
KJVWhen the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
JPSWhen the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were about me;
6
Thomsonwhen my ways abounded in butter, and my mountains flowed with milk—
Brentonwhen my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
GreekὍτε ἐχέοντο αἱ ὁδοί μου βουτύρῳ, τὰ δὲ ὄρη μου ἐχέοντο γάλακτι·
KJV—
JPSWhen my steps were washed with butter, And the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
7
Thomsonwhen I walked early through the city, and a seat was set for me in the streets!
BrentonWhen I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.
GreekὍτε ἐξεπορευόμην ὄρθριος ἐν πόλει, ἐν δὲ πλατείαις ἐτίθετό μου ὁ δίφρος.
KJVWhen I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
JPSWhen I went forth to the gate unto the city, When I prepared my seat in the broad place,
8
ThomsonThe young when they saw me hid themselves; and all the aged stood up.
BrentonThe young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.
GreekἸδόντες με νεανίσκοι ἐκρύβησαν, πρεσβῦται δὲ πάντες ἔστησαν.
KJVThe young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
JPSThe young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged rose up and stood;
9
ThomsonThe nobles forbore talking and put their finger on their mouth.
BrentonAnd the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.
GreekἉδροὶ δὲ ἐπαύσαντο λαλοῦντες, δάκτυλον ἐπιθέντες ἐπὶ στόματι.
KJVThe princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
JPSThe princes refrained talking, And laid their hand on their mouth;
10
ThomsonAnd while they who heard me were blessing me, their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
BrentonAnd they that heard me blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.
GreekΟἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες ἐμακάρισάν με, καὶ γλῶσσα αὐτῶν τῷ λάρυγγι αὐτῶν ἐκολλήθη.
KJV—
JPS—
11
ThomsonWhen the ear heard me it blessed me; and the eye when it saw me, turned aside:
BrentonFor the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.
GreekὍτι οὖς ἤκουσε καὶ ἐμακάρισέ με, ὀφθαλμὸς δὲ ἰδών με ἐξέκλινε.
KJVWhen the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
JPSFor when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, And when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me;
12
Thomsonfor I saved the poor from the hand of the mighty; and assisted the orphan who had no helper.
BrentonFor I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.
GreekΔιέσωσα γὰρ πτωχὸν ἐκ χειρὸς δυνάστου, καὶ ὀρφανῷ ᾧ οὐκ ἦν βοηθὸς, ἐβοήθησα.
KJVBecause I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
JPSBecause I delivered the poor that cried, The fatherless also, that had none to help him.
13
ThomsonThe blessing of him who was perishing came upon me: and the mouth of the widow blessed me.
BrentonLet the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.
GreekΕὐλογία ἀπολλυμένου ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἔλθοι, στόμα δὲ χήρας με εὐλόγησε·
KJVThe blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
JPSThe blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14
ThomsonI put on righteousness and clothed myself with justice as with a mantle.
BrentonAlso I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle.
GreekΔικαιοσύνην δὲ ἐνδεδύκειν, ἠμφιασάμην δὲ κρίμα ἶσα διπλοΐδι.
KJVI put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
JPSI put on righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
15
ThomsonI was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
BrentonI was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.
GreekὈφθαλμὸς ἤμην τυφλῶν, ποὺς δὲ χωλῶν.
KJVI was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
JPSI was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame.
16
ThomsonI was a father to those in distress; and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
BrentonI was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.
GreekἘγὼ ἤμην πατὴρ ἀδυνάτων, δίκην δὲ ἣν οὐκ ᾔδειν ἐξιχνίασα.
KJVI was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
JPSI was a father to the needy; And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.
17
ThomsonAnd I broke the jaws of the unrighteous; and plucked the prey from betwixt their teeth.
BrentonAnd I broke the jaw-teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.
GreekΣυνέτριψα δὲ μύλας ἀδίκων, ἐκ μέσου τῶν ὀδόντων αὐτῶν ἅρπαγμα ἐξήρπασα.
KJVAnd I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
JPSAnd I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth.
18
ThomsonTherefore I said, My youth shall advance to old age. Like the stock of a palm, I shall live long.
BrentonAnd I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm-tree; I shall live a long while.
GreekΕἶπα δὲ, ἡ ἡλικία μου γηράσει ὥσπερ στέλεχος φοίνικος, πολὺν χρόνον βιώσω.
KJV—
JPS—
19
ThomsonMy root is spread out by the water; and the dew will abide on my produce.
BrentonMy root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.
GreekἩ ῥίζα διήνοικται ἐπὶ ὕδατος, καὶ δρόσος αὐλισθήσεται ἐν τῷ θερισμῷ μου.
KJVMy root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
JPSMy root shall be spread out to the waters, And the dew shall lie all night upon my branch;
20
ThomsonThis vain glory of mine shall attend me: my bow is directed by His hand.
BrentonMy glory was fresh in me, and my bow prospered in his hand.
GreekἩ δόξα μου κενὴ μετʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ τὸ τόξον μου ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ πορεύεται.
KJVMy glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
JPSMy glory shall be fresh in me, And my bow shall be renewed in my hand.’
21
Thomson—
BrentonMen heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.
GreekἘμοῦ ἀκούσαντες προσέσχον, ἐσιώπησαν δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ ἐμῇ βουλῇ.
KJVUnto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
JPSUnto me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.
22
Thomson—
BrentonAt my word they spoke not again, and they were very glad whenever I spoke to them.
GreekἘπὶ τῷ ἐμῷ ῥήματι οὐ προσέθεντο, περιχαρεῖς δὲ ἐγίνοντο ὁπόταν αὐτοῖς ἐλάλουν.
KJV—
JPS—
23
ThomsonAs the thirsty earth receiveth rain, so did they my speech.
BrentonAs the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they waited for my speech.
GreekὭσπερ γῆ διψῶσα προσδεχομένη τὸν ὑετὸν, οὕτως οὗτοι τὴν ἐμὴν λαλιάν.
KJVAnd they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
JPSAnd they waited for me as for the rain; And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24
Thomson—
BrentonWere I to laugh on them, they would not believe it; and the light of my face has not failed.
GreekἘὰν γελάσω πρὸς αὐτοὺς, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσωσι, καὶ φῶς τοῦ προσώπου μου οὐκ ἀπέπιπτεν.
KJV—
JPS—
25
ThomsonI chose their way and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king among warriors—as one who comforteth the afflicted.
BrentonI chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.
GreekἘξελεξάμην ὁδὸν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐκάθισα ἄρχων, καὶ κατεσκήνουν ὡσεὶ βασιλεὺς ἐν μονοζώνοις, ὃν τρόπον παθεινοὺς παρακαλῶν.
KJVI chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
JPSI chose out their way, and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners.