29:1 AND JOB again took up his discussion and said, |
29:2 Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, |
29:3 When His lamp shone above {and} upon my head and by His light I walked through darkness; |
29:4 As I was in the [prime] ripeness of my days, when the friendship {and} counsel of God were over my tent, |
29:5 When the Almighty was yet with me and my children were about me, |
29:6 When my steps [through rich pasturage] were washed with butter and the rock poured out for me streams of oil! |
29:7 When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the street [the broad place for the council at the city's gate], |
29:8 The young men saw me and hid themselves; the aged rose up {and} stood; |
29:9 The princes refrained from talking and laid their hands on their mouths; |
29:10 The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues cleaved to the roof of their mouths. |
29:11 For when the ear heard, it called me happy {and} blessed me; and when the eye saw, it testified for me [approvingly], |
29:12 Because I delivered the poor who cried, the fatherless and him who had none to help him. |
29:13 The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. |
29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me {or} clothed itself with me; my justice was like a robe and a turban {or} a diadem {or} a crown! |
29:15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. |
29:16 I was a father to the poor {and} needy; the cause of him I did not know I searched out. |
29:17 And I broke the jaws {or} the big teeth of the unrighteous and plucked the prey out of his teeth. |
29:18 Then I said, I shall die in {or} beside my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. |
29:19 My root is spread out {and} open to the waters, and the dew lies all night upon my branch. |
29:20 My glory {and} honor are fresh in me [being constantly renewed], and my bow gains [ever] new strength in my hand. |
29:21 Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel. |
29:22 After I spoke, they did not speak again, and my speech dropped upon them [like a refreshing shower]. |
29:23 And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouths wide as for the spring rain. |
29:24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and their depression did not cast down the light of my countenance. |
29:25 I chose their way [for them] and sat as [their] chief, and dwelt like a king among his soldiers, like one who comforts mourners. |