Job 29
1 Job went on speaking.
Job resumed speaking and said,
2 “I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
3 His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
4 When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on my tent,
5 The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
6 My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
when my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
When I went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,
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 kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.
9 The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
10 The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.
11 Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
For after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of me
12 because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, and the one who had no father when he had no one to help him.
13 Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
16 I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
17 I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.
18 I thought I would die at home, after many years.
Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
19 Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
20 Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'
21 People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
22 Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
23 They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
They always waited for me as they waited for rain; they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, as they would do for the latter rain.
24 When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.
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 selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.
