Job 29
1 And Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: —
Job went on speaking.
2 Who doth make me as [in] months past, As [in] the days of God's preserving me?
“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
3 In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk [through] darkness.
His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
4 As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God upon my tent.
When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
5 When yet the Mighty One [is] with me. Round about me — my young ones,
The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
6 When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock [is] with me rivulets of oil.
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
7 When I go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.
I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
8 Seen me have youths, and they, been hidden, And the aged have risen — they stood up.
The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
9 Princes have kept in words, And a hand they place on their mouth.
The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 The voice of leaders hath been hidden, And their tongue to the palate hath cleaved.
The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
11 For the ear heard, and declareth me happy, And the eye hath seen, and testifieth [to] me.
Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
12 For I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who hath no helper.
because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 The blessing of the perishing cometh on me, And the heart of the widow I cause to sing.
Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
14 Righteousness I have put on, and it clotheth me, As a robe and a diadem my justice.
Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
15 Eyes I have been to the blind, And feet to the lame [am] I.
I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 A father I [am] to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.
I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
17 And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.
I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 And I say, 'With my nest I expire, And as the sand I multiply days.'
I thought I would die at home, after many years.
19 My root is open unto the waters, And dew doth lodge on my branch.
Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
20 My honour [is] fresh with me, And my bow in my hand is renewed.
Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
21 To me they have hearkened, Yea, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.
People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
22 After my word they change not, And on them doth my speech drop,
Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
23 And they wait as [for] rain for me, And their mouth they have opened wide [As] for the latter rain.
They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
24 I laugh unto them — they give no credence, And the light of my face cause not to fall.
When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
25 I choose their way, and sit head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When mourners he doth comfort.
I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
