1:16 While this one was still speaking, 6 another messenger arrived 7 and said, “The fire of God 8 has fallen from heaven 9 and has burned up the sheep and the servants – it has consumed them! And I – only I alone – escaped to tell you!”
1:17 While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “The Chaldeans 10 formed three bands and made a raid 11 on the camels and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! 12 And I – only I alone – escaped to tell you!”
1:18 While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 1:19 and suddenly 13 a great wind 14 swept across 15 the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they died! And I – only I alone – escaped to tell you!”
29:5 when the Almighty 16 was still with me
and my children were 17 around me;
29:6 when my steps 18 were bathed 19 with butter 20
and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil! 21
29:7 When I went out to the city gate
and secured my seat in the public square, 22
29:8 the young men would see me and step aside, 23
and the old men would get up and remain standing;
29:9 the chief men refrained from talking
and covered their mouths with their hands;
29:10 the voices of the nobles fell silent, 24
and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
29:11 “As soon as the ear heard these things, 25 it blessed me, 26
and when the eye saw them, it bore witness to me,
29:12 for I rescued the poor who cried out for help,
and the orphan who 27 had no one to assist him;
29:13 the blessing of the dying man descended on me, 28
and I made the widow’s heart rejoice; 29
29:14 I put on righteousness and it clothed me, 30
my just dealing 31 was like a robe and a turban;
29:15 I was eyes for the blind
and feet for the lame;
29:16 I was a father 32 to the needy,
and I investigated the case of the person I did not know;
29:17 I broke the fangs 33 of the wicked,
and made him drop 34 his prey from his teeth.
29:18 “Then I thought, ‘I will die in my own home, 35
my days as numerous as the grains of sand. 36
29:19 My roots reach the water,
and the dew lies on my branches all night long.
29:20 My glory 37 will always be fresh 38 in me,
and my bow ever new in my hand.’
29:21 “People 39 listened to me and waited silently; 40
they kept silent for my advice.
29:22 After I had spoken, they did not respond;
my words fell on them drop by drop. 41
29:23 They waited for me as people wait 42 for the rain,
and they opened their mouths 43
as for 44 the spring rains.
29:24 If I smiled at them, they hardly believed it; 45
and they did not cause the light of my face to darken. 46
29:25 I chose 47 the way for them 48
and sat as their chief; 49
I lived like a king among his troops;
I was like one who comforts mourners. 50