Job Chapter 29
1 Job took up his discourse again:
2 “Oh that I could be like I was just a few months ago
when God was watching over me,
3 when his lamp shined above my head
and I walked through darkness by his light,
4 while I was in the prime of life
and his friendship hovered above my tent,
5 when the Almighty was still with me
and my children were around me,
6 when my feet were drenched with cream
and the millstone poured out streams of olive oil for me!
7 when I went to the city gate
and took my seat in the town square.
Job 29:1-7
8 Young men saw me and stepped aside,
old men stood up,
9 officials stopped talking
and put their hands over their mouths;
10 nobles’ voices got quiet
and put their tongues against their palates.
11 When people heard me, they praised me;
when they saw me, they spoke well of me
12 because I helped the poor that asked for it
and the orphan that had no advocate.
13 People about to die blessed me;
I made widows sing for joy.
14 I dressed in goodness;
justice covered me like a robe and turban.
Job 29:8-14
15 I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 I became a father to the needy
and helped strangers I didn’t know.
17 I broke the jaws of the wicked
and snatched the prey from their teeth.
18 Then I supposed, ‘I’ll die in my nest
and multiply my days like sand.
19 My roots reach out to the water;
dew lies all night on my branches.
20 My honor is always fresh;
my bow stays new in my hand.’
Job 29:15-20
21 “They listened to me, waited,
and kept quiet to hear my advice.
22 When I spoke, they had nothing to add;
what I said was sufficient for them.
23 They waited for me like spring rain
and drank in my words like fresh showers.
24 I smiled at them when they weren’t sure what to do;
they valued my approval.
25 I told them what course of action to take
and sat as their chief;
I lived like a king among his troops,
like somebody that comforted mourners.
Job 29:21-25