< Job 29 >
1 And Job continued and said in his parable,
Job went on speaking.
2 Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!
“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
3 As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.
His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
4 [As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.
When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
5 When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;
The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
6 when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
7 When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.
I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.
The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
9 And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.
The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.
The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
11 For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.
Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
12 For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.
because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yes, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.
Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
14 Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgement like a mantle.
Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
15 I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.
I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.
I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
17 And I broke the jaw teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.
I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm tree; I shall live a long while.
I thought I would die at home, after many years.
19 [My] root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.
Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand.
Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
21 [Men] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.
People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
22 At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them.
Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
23 As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.
They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
24 Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.
When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and lived as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.
I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.