Job 29

1 Job spoke again,

Job also added to this, using figures of speech, and he said:

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

Who will grant to me that I might be as I was in former months, according to the days when God kept watch 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.

At that time, his lamp shined over my head, and by his light, I walked through the darkness.

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

I was then just as in the days of my youth, when God was privately in my tabernacle.

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

At that time, the Almighty was with me and my children surrounded me.

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

Then, I washed my feet with butter, and a boulder poured out rivers of oil 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 to the gate of the city, or to the main street, they prepared a chair for me.

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

The youths saw me and hid themselves, and the elders, rising up, remained standing.

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

The leaders stopped talking, and they placed a finder over their mouth.

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

The commanders subdued their voice, and their tongue adhered 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,

The ear that heard me, blessed me, and the eye that saw me, gave testimony for 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.

This was because I had freed the poor, who cried out, and the orphan, 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].

The blessing of him who would have been destroyed came upon me, and I consoled the heart of the widow.

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 justice, and I clothed myself with my judgment, like a robe and a diadem.

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

I was an eye for the blind and a foot for 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 poor; and if I lacked knowledge about any case, I investigated very diligently.

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.

I crushed the jaws of the impious, and I took away prey from his 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, “I will die in my little nest, and like a palm tree, I will multiply my days.

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 has been spread beside the waters, and the dew will remain with my harvest.

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

My glory will always be restored, and my bow will be restored to 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].

Those who heard me, expected vindication, and they listened closely in silence to 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].

To my words, they dared to add nothing, and my eloquence poured over 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].

They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for belated rains.

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

If I had ever laughed at them, they would not have believed it, and the light of my face was not cast down towards the ground.

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.”

If I wished to go to them, I sat down first, and, though I sat like a king surrounded by an army, yet I was a comforter to those who mourned.