“ I long for the years gone by when God took care of me,

“惟愿我的景况如从前的月份，如神保守我的日子。

“惟愿我如从前的岁月，如上帝保护我的日子。

“惟愿我如从前的岁月，如神保护我的日子。

“但愿我回到从前的岁月，回到上帝看顾我的日子。

“但愿我的景况像以前的岁月，像神保守我的日子。

惟願我的景況如從前的月份，如神保守我的日子。

「惟願我如從前的歲月，如上帝保護我的日子。

「惟願我如從前的歲月，如神保護我的日子。

「但願我回到從前的歲月，回到上帝看顧我的日子。

“但願我的景況像以前的歲月，像神保守我的日子。

『惟願我像往昔的歲月，像上帝保守我的日子。

惟願如曩昔之月、如上帝顧我之日、

願如疇昔、我蒙上帝護持、

願我仍如曩時之月、如天主護我之日、

“ How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,

“ How I long for the times when things were better! That’s when God watched over me.

“ Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me,

If only I could be as in months gone by, in the days when God watched over me,

“ Oh that I were as in months gone by, As in the days when God watched over me;

“ Oh, that I were as in months past, As in the days when God watched over me;

Oh that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me;

If only I could be as in months gone by, in the days when God watched over me,

Oh that I were as[ in] months past, as[ in] the days[ when] God preserved me;

“ O that I could be as I was in the months now gone, in the days when God watched over me,

“ Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless— a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.He had seven sons and three daughters.He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them.When these celebrations ended— sometimes after several days— Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself,“ Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is!

For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die.

In the past I deliberately uprooted and tore down this nation. I overthrew it, destroyed it, and brought disaster upon it. But in the future I will just as deliberately plant it and build it up. I, the Lord, have spoken!

I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery.

This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.