The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
Parallel translations
- WEB the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
- BSB The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
- NKJV The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
- NASB “The blessing of the one who was about to perish came upon me, And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
- NLT I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The dying blessed Job, and he brought joy to the widow's heart.
Overview
Job recalls bringing blessing to those near death and causing widows, the most vulnerable in society, to sing for joy. His mercy reached the most helpless and despairing. Such care for the widow reflects God's own heart (Psalm 146:9) and foreshadows the compassion of Christ, who comforted the grieving and lifted the lowly.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 2 Tim 1:16–18The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
- Phlm 1:7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
- Job 31:19–20If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
- Job 22:9Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
- Isa 27:13And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.
- Deut 26:5And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:
- 2 Cor 9:12–14For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
- Isa 65:14Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
- Prov 31:6–9Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
- Deut 16:11And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.
- Deut 24:13In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.
- Neh 8:10–12Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
- Acts 9:39–41Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
- Ps 67:4O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 29:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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