Job 29

1 Job spoke again,

Job resumed speaking 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 I were as I was in the past months when God cared for 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 shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.

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

Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on my tent,

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

when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around 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 way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for 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 went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,

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 kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.

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

The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.

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

The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.

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 after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of 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.

because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, and the one who had no father when he had no one to help 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 who was about to perish came on me; I caused the widow's heart 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].

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.

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

I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.

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

I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.

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 broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between 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 said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of 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 roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.

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

The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new 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].

To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.

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 words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water 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].

They always waited for me as they waited for rain; they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, as they would do for the latter 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 smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.

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 selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.