Bible in Basic English
The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.
The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
— Job 29:9-1964, Bible in Basic English
“The princes refrained from talking, And laid their hand on their mouth; The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. For when the ear heardme, then it blessed me; And when the eye sawme, it gave witness unto me: Because I delivered the poor that cried, The fatherless also, that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: My justice was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the needy: And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out. And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth. 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 wideasfor 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 sataschief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners. ”
When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.
The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...