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.