Job 29

1 And Job again took up his parable, and said,

2 Oh that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me;

3 When his lamp shined upon my head, And by his light I walked through darkness;

4 As I was in the ripeness of my days, When the friendship of God was upon my tent;

5 When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were about me;

6 When my steps were washed with butter, And the rock poured me out streams of oil!

7 When I went forth to the gate unto the city, When I prepared my seat in the street,

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged rose up and stood;

9 The princes refrained from talking, And laid their hand on their mouth;

10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; And when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me:

12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, The fatherless also, that had none to help him.

13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: My justice was as a robe and a diadem.

15 I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame.

16 I was a father to the needy: And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.

17 And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth.

18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand:

19 My root is spread out to the waters, And the dew lieth all night upon my branch;

20 My glory is fresh in me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.

21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.

22 After my words they spake not again; And my speech distilled upon them.

23 And they waited for me as for the rain; And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

24 I smiled on them, when they had no confidence; And the light of my countenance they cast not down.

25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners.

JOB 29

Job Continues

I Long for the Past

1 Job said:

2 I long for the past,
when God took care of me,

3 and the light from his lamp
showed me the way
through the dark.

4 I was in the prime of life,
God All-Powerful
was my closest friend,

5 and all of my children
were nearby.

6 My herds gave enough milk
to bathe my feet,
and from my olive harvest
flowed rivers of oil.
*

7 When I sat down at the meeting
of the city council,

8 the young leaders stepped aside,
*

9 while the older ones stood

10 and remained silent.

Everyone Was Pleased

11 Everyone was pleased
with what I said and did.

12 When poor people or orphans
cried out for help,
I came to their rescue.

13 And I was highly praised
for my generosity to widows
and others in poverty.

14 Kindness and justice
were my coat and hat;

15 I was helpful to the blind
and to the lame.

16 I was a father to the needy,
and I defended them in court,
even if they were strangers.

17 When criminals attacked,
I broke their teeth
and set their victims free.

18 I felt certain that I would live
a long and happy life,
then die in my own bed.

19 In those days I was strong
like a tree with deep roots
and with plenty of water,

20 or like an archer's new bow.

21 Everyone listened in silence
to my welcome advice,

22 and when I finished speaking,
nothing needed to be said.

23 My words were eagerly accepted
like the showers of spring,

24 and the smile on my face
renewed everyone's hopes.

25 My advice was followed
as though I were a king
leading my troops,
or someone comforting
those in sorrow.