Job 29

1 Job spoke again,

And Job continued and said in his parable,

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

Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved 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.

As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.

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

[As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.

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

When I was very fruitful, and my children were about 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 ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.

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

When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.

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 hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.

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

And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.

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

And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.

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 the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.

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 saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.

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].

Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.

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].

Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle.

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

I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.

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

I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.

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.

And I broke the jaw-teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.

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].’

And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm-tree; I shall live a long while.

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 was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.

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

My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his 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] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.

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].

At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them.

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].

As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.

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

Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.

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 chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.