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29 Job continues:

“Oh, for the years gone by when God took care of me, when he lighted the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness; yes, in my early years, when the friendship of God was felt in my home; when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me; when my projects prospered and even the rock poured out streams of olive oil to me!

“Those were the days when I went out to the city gate and took my place among the honored elders. The young saw me and stepped aside, and even the aged rose and stood up in respect at my coming. The princes stood in silence and laid their hands upon their mouths. 10 The highest officials of the city stood in quietness. 11 All rejoiced in what I said. All who saw me spoke well of me.

12 “For I, as an honest judge,[a] helped the poor in their need and the fatherless who had no one to help them. 13 I helped those who were ready to perish, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy. 14 All I did was just and honest, for righteousness was my clothing! 15 I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. 16 I was as a father to the poor and saw to it that even strangers received a fair trial. 17 I knocked out the fangs of the godless oppressors and made them drop their victims.

18 “I thought, ‘Surely I shall die quietly in my nest after a long, good life.’ 19 For everything I did prospered; the dew lay all night upon my fields and watered them. 20 Fresh honors were constantly given me, and my abilities were constantly refreshed and renewed. 21 Everyone listened to me and valued my advice, and was silent until I spoke. 22 And after I spoke, they spoke no more, for my counsel satisfied them. 23 They longed for me to speak as those in drought-time long for rain. They waited eagerly with open mouths. 24 When they were discouraged, I smiled and that encouraged them and lightened their spirits. 25 I told them what they should do and corrected them as their chief, or as a king instructs his army, and as one who comforts those who mourn.

Footnotes

  1. Job 29:12 For I, as an honest judge, implied in v. 7.

Job’s Final Defense

29 Job continued his discourse:(A)

“How I long for the months gone by,(B)
    for the days when God watched over me,(C)
when his lamp shone on my head
    and by his light I walked through darkness!(D)
Oh, for the days when I was in my prime,
    when God’s intimate friendship(E) blessed my house,(F)
when the Almighty was still with me
    and my children(G) were around me,(H)
when my path was drenched with cream(I)
    and the rock(J) poured out for me streams of olive oil.(K)

“When I went to the gate(L) of the city
    and took my seat in the public square,
the young men saw me and stepped aside(M)
    and the old men rose to their feet;(N)
the chief men refrained from speaking(O)
    and covered their mouths with their hands;(P)
10 the voices of the nobles were hushed,(Q)
    and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.(R)
11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me,
    and those who saw me commended me,(S)
12 because I rescued the poor(T) who cried for help,
    and the fatherless(U) who had none to assist them.(V)
13 The one who was dying blessed me;(W)
    I made the widow’s(X) heart sing.
14 I put on righteousness(Y) as my clothing;
    justice was my robe and my turban.(Z)
15 I was eyes(AA) to the blind
    and feet to the lame.(AB)
16 I was a father to the needy;(AC)
    I took up the case(AD) of the stranger.(AE)
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked
    and snatched the victims(AF) from their teeth.(AG)

18 “I thought, ‘I will die in my own house,
    my days as numerous as the grains of sand.(AH)
19 My roots will reach to the water,(AI)
    and the dew will lie all night on my branches.(AJ)
20 My glory will not fade;(AK)
    the bow(AL) will be ever new in my hand.’(AM)

21 “People listened to me expectantly,
    waiting in silence for my counsel.(AN)
22 After I had spoken, they spoke no more;(AO)
    my words fell gently on their ears.(AP)
23 They waited for me as for showers
    and drank in my words as the spring rain.(AQ)
24 When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it;
    the light of my face(AR) was precious to them.[a](AS)
25 I chose the way for them and sat as their chief;(AT)
    I dwelt as a king(AU) among his troops;
    I was like one who comforts mourners.(AV)

Footnotes

  1. Job 29:24 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.