Job 29

Chapter 29

Job Speaks of His Former Blessings

1 Job continued speaking:
2 “I long for the years gone by
when God took care of me,3 when he lit up the way before me
and I walked safely through the darkness.4 When I was in my prime,
God’s friendship was felt in my home.5 The Almighty was still with me,
and my children were around me.6 My cows produced milk in abundance,
and my groves poured out streams of olive oil.7 “Those were the days when I went to the city gate
and took my place among the honored leaders.8 The young stepped aside when they saw me,
and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.9 The princes stood in silence
and put their hands over their mouths.10 The highest officials of the city stood quietly,
holding their tongues in respect.11 “All who heard me praised me.
All who saw me spoke well of me.12 For I assisted the poor in their need
and the orphans who required help.13 I helped those without hope, and they blessed me.
And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.14 Everything I did was honest.
Righteousness covered me like a robe,
and I wore justice like a turban.15 I served as eyes for the blind
and feet for the lame.16 I was a father to the poor
and assisted strangers who needed help.17 I broke the jaws of godless oppressors
and plucked their victims from their teeth.18 “I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family
after a long, good life.t19 For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water,
whose branches are refreshed with the dew.20 New honors are constantly bestowed on me,
and my strength is continually renewed.’21 “Everyone listened to my advice.
They were silent as they waited for me to speak.22 And after I spoke, they had nothing to add,
for my counsel satisfied them.23 They longed for me to speak as people long for rain.
They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them.
My look of approval was precious to them.25 Like a chief, I told them what to do.
I lived like a king among his troops
and comforted those who mourned.

Job 29

IV. Job’s Concluding Soliloquy (29:1-31:40)

Job Recalls His Former Condition

1 Then Job continuedt his speech:

2 “O that I could bet ast I was
in the months now gone,t
in the dayst when God watchedt over me,

3 whent he causedt his lamps
to shine upon my head,
and by his light
I walkedt through darkness;t

4 just as I was in my most productive time,t
when God’s intimate friendships was experienced in my tent,

5 when the Almightyt was still with me
and my children weres around me;

6 when my stepst were bathedt with buttert
and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil!t

7 When I went out to the city gate
and secured my seat in the public square,s

8 the young men would see me and step aside,t
and the old men would get up and remain standing;

9 the chief men refrained from talking
and covered their mouths with their hands;

10 the voices of the nobles fell silent,t
and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

Job’s Benevolence

11 “As soon as the ear heard these things,t it blessed me,t
and when the eye saw them, it bore witness to me,

12 for I rescued the poor who cried out for help,
and the orphan whot had no one to assist him;

13 the blessing of the dying man descended on me,t
and I made the widow’s heart rejoice;t

14 I put on righteousness and it clothed me,t
my just dealingt was like a robe and a turban;

15 I was eyes for the blind
and feet for the lame;

16 I was a fathers to the needy,
and I investigated the case of the person I did not know;

17 I broke the fangst of the wicked,
and made him dropt his prey from his teeth.

Job’s Confidence

18 “Then I thought, ‘I will die in my own home,s
my days as numerous as the grains of sand.s

19 My roots reach the water,
and the dew lies on my branches all night long.

20 My gloryt will always be fresht in me,
and my bow ever new in my hand.’

Job’s Reputation

21 “Peoplet listened to me and waited silently;s
they kept silent for my advice.

22 After I had spoken, they did not respond;
my words fell on them drop by drop.t

23 They waited for me as people waitt for the rain,
and they opened their mouthss
as fort the spring rains.

24 If I smiled at them, they hardly believed it;t
and they did not cause the light of my face to darken.t

25 I choset the way for themt
and sat as their chief;t
I lived like a king among his troops;
I was like one who comforts mourners.s