Job 29
Living Bible
29 Job continues:
2 “Oh, for the years gone by when God took care of me, 3 when he lighted the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness; 4 yes, in my early years, when the friendship of God was felt in my home; 5 when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me; 6 when my projects prospered and even the rock poured out streams of olive oil to me!
7 “Those were the days when I went out to the city gate and took my place among the honored elders. 8 The young saw me and stepped aside, and even the aged rose and stood up in respect at my coming. 9 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
- Job 29:12 For I, as an honest judge, implied in v. 7.
Job 29
King James Version
29 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him 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 judgment 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 poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil 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 was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.