Job 29

1 Job spoke again,

And Job adds to lift up his allegory and says:

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

“Who makes me as [in] months past, As [in] the days of God’s preserving 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.

In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk [through] darkness.

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

As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God on my tent.

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

When yet the Mighty One [is] with me. Around me—my young ones,

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

When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock [is] with me—streams of oil.

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

When I go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.

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

Youths have seen me, and they have been hidden, And the aged have risen—they stood up.

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

Princes have kept in words, And they place a 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 voice of leaders has been hidden, And their tongue has cleaved to the palate.

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 declares me blessed, And the eye has seen, and testifies [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 deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who has 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 the perishing comes on me, And I cause the heart of the widow to sing.

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 have put on righteousness, and it clothes me, My justice as a robe and a crown.

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

I have been eyes to the blind, And I [am] feet to the lame.

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

I [am] a father to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.

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 break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.

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 say, I expire with my nest, And I multiply days 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.

My root is open to the waters, And dew lodges on my branch.

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

My glory [is] fresh with me, And my bow is renewed 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].

They have listened to me, Indeed, they wait, and are silent for 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].

After my word they do not change, And my speech drops on 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 wait for me as [for] rain, And they have opened wide their mouth [As] for the spring rain.

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

I laugh at them—they give no credence, And do not cause the light of my face 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 choose their way, and sit [as] head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When he comforts mourners.”