Job 29
1 And Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: —
Job spoke again,
2 Who doth make me as [in] months past, As [in] the days of God's preserving me?
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk [through] darkness.
During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
4 As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God upon my tent.
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 When yet the Mighty One [is] with me. Round about me — my young ones,
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock [is] with me rivulets of oil.
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 When I go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 Seen me have youths, and they, been hidden, And the aged have risen — they stood up.
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 Princes have kept in words, And a hand they place on their mouth.
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 The voice of leaders hath been hidden, And their tongue to the palate hath cleaved.
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 For the ear heard, and declareth me happy, And the eye hath seen, and testifieth [to] me.
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,
12 For I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who hath no helper.
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.
13 The blessing of the perishing cometh on me, And the heart of the widow I cause to sing.
Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
14 Righteousness I have put on, and it clotheth me, As a robe and a diadem my justice.
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].
15 Eyes I have been to the blind, And feet to the lame [am] I.
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 A father I [am] to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.
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.
18 And I say, 'With my nest I expire, And as the sand I multiply days.'
“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].’
19 My root is open unto the waters, And dew doth lodge on my branch.
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 My honour [is] fresh with me, And my bow in my hand is renewed.
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 To me they have hearkened, Yea, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 After my word they change not, And on them doth my speech drop,
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].
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 [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].
24 I laugh unto them — they give no credence, And the light of my face cause not to fall.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 I choose their way, and sit head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When mourners he doth comfort.
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.”
