Job 29

1 Job spoke again,

And Job again took up his measure, and said,

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

Oh that it were with me as in the months of old, as in the days, when, GOD, used to 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.

When his lamp shone over my head, by whose light, I could go through darkness;

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 days of my prime, when, the intimacy of GOD, was over my tent;

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

While yet the Almighty was with me, round about me, were my young men;

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 bathed in milk, and, the rock, poured out beside me, rivulets of oil:

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 unto the city, in the open place, made ready my seat,

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

Young men saw me, and hid themselves, and, the aged, arose—they stood;

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

Rulers, restrained speech, and, a hand, laid they 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 nobles, was hushed, and their tongue to their palate, did cleave;

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,

When, the ear, heard, then it pronounced me happy, When, the eye, saw, then it bare me witness;

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.

Because I used to deliver the oppressed who was crying out for aid, the fatherless also, and him that 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 that was ready to perish, upon me was wont to descend, and, the heart of the widow, caused I to sing for joy;

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].

Righteousness, I put on, and it clothed me, Like a robe and turban, was my, justice;

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

Eyes, became I to the, blind, and, feet to the lame, was, I!

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

A father, was, I, to the needy, and, as for the cause which I knew not, I used to search it 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 shivered the fangs of the perverse, —and, out of his teeth, I tare the 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].’

Then said I, Like a stem, shall I grow old, yea, as the sand, shall I multiply 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, is laid open to the waters, and, the dew, shall lodge for the night in my boughs;

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

Mine honour, shall be young again with me, and, my bow, in my hand, be renewed.

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

To me, men hearkened, and waited, and kept silence 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 I had spoken, they spake not again, and, upon them, used my speech to drop;

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 waited, as for rain, for me, and, their mouths, they opened wide 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 laughed at them—they lost confidence, and, the light of my countenance, they suffered not to fail;

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 abode, as king, in an army, as one who, to mourners, giveth comfort.