Job 29

1 Job spoke again,

And Job again took up the word and said,

2 “I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.

If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!

3 During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.

When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.

4 At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.

As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;

5 Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.

While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;

6 [My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.

When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.

7 “Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,

When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,

8 and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].

The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;

9 The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],

The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;

10 and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].

The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.

11 When they [SYN] all heard [what I told them], they said good things about me. When they [SYN] saw me (OR, what I had done), they commended me,

For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;

12 because I had helped the poor people when they cried out for help and I aided/helped orphans who had no one else to help them.

For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.

13 Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].

The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.

14 I always acted justly; my continually doing that was like [MET] a robe that I wore and a turban [that was wrapped around my head].

I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.

15 [It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.

16 I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.

I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.

17 My causing wicked people [to be unable to continue oppressing others was like] [MET] breaking the fangs [of fierce wild animals] and forcing them to drop from their teeth/mouths the animals that they had caught/seized.

By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.

18 “At that time I thought, ‘Surely I will live securely, until I am very old [SIM], and I will die at home [with my family].’

Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;

19 I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.

My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,

20 People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.

My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.

21 “When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].

Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.

22 After I finished speaking, they did not say any more; [it was as though] [MET] my words fell on their ears [like refreshing drops of rain].

After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;

23 They waited for me [to speak] like they wait for rain; they [appreciated what I said] like [MET] [farmers appreciate] the final rain in the spring [before the dry season].

They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.

24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.

I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.

25 I was their leader, and I decided what things [would be good for them to do]; I was among them like [SIM] a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts [others] who are mourning.”

I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...