Job 29

1 Job spoke again,

So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,

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 times past, when God preserued 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 shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse,

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

As I was in the dayes of my youth: when Gods prouidence was vpon my tabernacle:

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

When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round 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 I washed my pathes with butter, and when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle:

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

When I went out to the gate, euen to the iudgement seat, and when I caused them to prepare my seate in the streete.

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

The yong men saw me, and hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp.

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

The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.

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

The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.

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,

And when the eare heard me, it blessed me: and when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse 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 deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.

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 that was ready to perish, came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce.

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 iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne.

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

I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.

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

I was a father vnto the poore, and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out 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 brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of 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].’

Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.

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

For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.

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

My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.

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

Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.

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 my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon 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].

And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.

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 laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.

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 appoynted out their way, and did sit as chiefe, and dwelt as a King in the army, and like him that comforteth the mourners.