29:1 Job again took up his discourse and said,
29:2 “Oh that I were as in months gone by,
As in the days when God watched over me;
29:3 When His lamp shone over my head,
And by His light I walked through darkness;
29:4 Just as I was in the days of my youth,
When the protection of God was over my tent;
29:5 When ①the Almighty was still with me,
And my children were around me;
▷ ①Heb Shaddai
29:6 When my steps were bathed in cream,
And the rock poured out streams of oil for me!
29:7 When I went out to the gate of the city,
When I ①took my seat in the public square,
▷ ①Lit set up
29:8 The young men saw me and hid themselves,
And the old men arose and stood.
29:9 The leaders stopped talking
And put their hands on their mouths;
29:10 The voices of the prominent people were ①hushed,
And their tongues stuck to their palates.
▷ ①Lit hidden
29:11 For when an ear heard, it called me blessed,
And when an eye saw, it testified in support of me,
29:12 Because I saved the poor who cried for help,
And the orphan who had no helper.
29:13 The blessing of the one who was about to perish came upon me,
And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was like a robe and a headband.
29:15 I was eyes to those who were blind,
And feet to those who ①could not walk.
▷ ①Or limped
29:16 I was a father to the poor,
And I investigated the case which I did not know.
29:17 I broke the jaws of the wicked
And rescued the prey from his teeth.
29:18 Then I ①thought, ‘I will die with my ②family,
And I will multiply my days as the sand.
▷ ①Lit said ②Lit nest
29:19 My root is spread out to the waters,
And dew lies on my branch all night.
29:20 My glory is ever new with me,
And my bow is renewed in my hand.’
29:21 “To me they listened and waited,
And they kept silent for my advice.
29:22 After my words they did not speak again,
And my speech dropped on them.
29:23 They waited for me as for the rain,
And opened their mouths as for the late rain.
29:24 I smiled at them when they did not believe,
And they did not look at ①my kindness ungraciously.
▷ ①Lit the light of my face
29:25 I chose a way for them and sat as chief,
And lived as a king among the troops,
As one who comforted the mourners.