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