Job 29
1 And Job adds to lift up his allegory and says:
Job went on speaking.
2 “Who makes me as [in] months past, As [in] the days of God’s preserving me?
“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
3 In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk [through] darkness.
His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
4 As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God on my tent.
When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
5 When yet the Mighty One [is] with me. Around me—my young ones,
The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
6 When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock [is] with me—streams of oil.
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
7 When I go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.
I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
8 Youths have seen me, and they have been hidden, And the aged have risen—they stood up.
The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
9 Princes have kept in words, And they place a hand on their mouth.
The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 The voice of leaders has been hidden, And their tongue has cleaved to the palate.
The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
11 For the ear heard, and declares me blessed, And the eye has seen, and testifies [to] me.
Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
12 For I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who has no helper.
because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 The blessing of the perishing comes on me, And I cause the heart of the widow to sing.
Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
14 I have put on righteousness, and it clothes me, My justice as a robe and a crown.
Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
15 I have been eyes to the blind, And I [am] feet to the lame.
I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 I [am] a father to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.
I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
17 And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.
I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 And I say, I expire with my nest, And I multiply days as the sand.
I thought I would die at home, after many years.
19 My root is open to the waters, And dew lodges on my branch.
Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
20 My glory [is] fresh with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.
Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
21 They have listened to me, Indeed, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.
People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
22 After my word they do not change, And my speech drops on them,
Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
23 And they wait for me as [for] rain, And they have opened wide their mouth [As] for the spring rain.
They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
24 I laugh at them—they give no credence, And do not cause the light of my face to fall.
When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
25 I choose their way, and sit [as] head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When he comforts mourners.”
I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
