Job 29:21–25
21 “People listened to me expectantly,
waiting in silence for my counsel.q
22 After I had spoken, they spoke no more;r
my words fell gently on their ears.s
23 They waited for me as for showers
and drank in my words as the spring rain.t
24 When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it;
the light of my faceu was precious to them.a v
25 I chose the way for them and sat as their chief;w
I dwelt as a kingx among his troops;
I was like one who comforts mourners.y
Job 29:21–25 — English Standard Version (ESV)
21 “Men listened to me and waited
and kept silence for my counsel.
22 After I spoke they did not speak again,
and my word dropped upon them.
23 They waited for me as for the rain,
and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.
24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence,
and the light of my face they did not cast down.
25 I chose their way and sat as chief,
and I lived like a king among his troops,
like one who comforts mourners.
Job 29:21–25 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited,
And kept silence at my counsel.
22 After my words they spake not again;
And my speech dropped upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain;
And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not;
And the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief,
And dwelt as a king in the army,
As one that comforteth the mourners.
Job 29:21–25 — New Living Translation (NLT)
21 “Everyone listened to my advice.
They were silent as they waited for me to speak.
22 And after I spoke, they had nothing to add,
for my counsel satisfied them.
23 They longed for me to speak as people long for rain.
They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them.
My look of approval was precious to them.
25 Like a chief, I told them what to do.
I lived like a king among his troops
and comforted those who mourned.
Job 29:21–25 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
21 “Men listened to me and waited,
And kept silence for my counsel.
22 After my words they did not speak again,
And my speech settled on them as dew.
23 They waited for me as for the rain,
And they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain.
24 If I mocked at them, they did not believe it,
And the light of my countenance they did not cast down.
25 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 29:21–25 — New Century Version (NCV)
21 “People listened to me carefully
and waited quietly for my advice.
22 After I finished speaking, they spoke no more.
My words fell very gently on their ears.
23 They waited for me as they would for rain
and drank in my words like spring rain.
24 I smiled at them when they doubted,
and my approval was important to them.
25 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 29:21–25 — American Standard Version (ASV)
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited,
And kept silence for my counsel.
22 After my words they spake not again;
And my speech distilled upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain;
And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 I smiled on them, when they had no confidence;
And the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief,
And dwelt as a king in the army,
As one that comforteth the mourners.
Job 29:21–25 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
21 Unto me they listened, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel: 22 After my words they spoke not again, and my speech dropped upon them; 23 And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and they troubled not the serenity of my countenance. 25 I chose their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth mourners.
Job 29:21–25 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
21 “People listened to me eagerly,
quietly waiting for my advice.
22 After I had spoken, they wouldn’t speak again.
After all, my words fell gently on them.
23 They were as eager to hear me as they were for rain.
They opened their mouths wide as if waiting for a spring shower.
24 When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it,
but the expression on my face did not change.
25 I decided how they should live.
I sat as their leader.
I lived like a king among his troops,
like one who comforts mourners.
Job 29:21–25 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
21 Men listened to me with expectation,
waiting silently for my advice.
22 After a word from me they did not speak again;
my speech settled on them like dew.
23 They waited for me as for the rain
and opened their mouths as for spring showers.
24 If I smiled at them, they couldn’t believe it;
they were thrilled at the light of my countenance.
25 I directed their course and presided as chief.
I lived as a king among his troops,
like one who comforts those who mourn.
Job 29:21–25 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
21 “They listened to me, and waited,
and kept silence for my counsel.
22 After I spoke they did not speak again,
and my word dropped upon them like dew.
23 They waited for me as for the rain;
they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.
24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence;
and the light of my countenance they did not extinguish.
25 I chose their way, and sat as chief,
and I lived like a king among his troops,
like one who comforts mourners.
Job 29:21–25 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
21 “They listened to me and waited,
and they kept silent for my counsel.
22 After my word, they did not speak again,
and my word dropped down like dew upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain,
and they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain.
24 I smiled for them when they had no confidence in anything,
and they did not extinguish the light of my face.
25 I chose their way, and I sat as head,
and I dwelled like a king among the troops,
like one who comforts mourners.
Job 29:21–25 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
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 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 29:21–25 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
21 “To me they listened and waited,
And kept silent for my counsel.
22 “After my words they did not speak again,
And my speech dropped on them.
23 “They waited for me as for the rain,
And opened their mouth as for the spring rain.
24 “I smiled on them when they did not believe,
And the light of my face they did not cast down.
25 “I chose a way for them and sat as chief,
And dwelt as a king among the troops,
As one who comforted the mourners.