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Job 29

Job speaks about his life [ a ]

29 Job continued to speak. This is what he said:

2 ‘I would like my life to be as it was before,
many months ago.
At that time, God took care of me.
3 He was my guide,
as if he had a lamp to show me the way.
His light kept me safe
as I walked in dark places.
4 I was strong and well.
God was my friend
and he protected my home.
5 At that time, Almighty God was still with me.
My children were near me.
6 I got plenty of milk from my cows,
so that my life was easy.
My olive trees gave me lots of oil.
7 I would go to the gate of the city,
and sit there as one of the leaders.
8 When young men saw me,
they would move to the side.
Even the old men would stand up to respect me.
9 The city's rulers would stop speaking.
They would cover their mouths with their hands.
10 The important leaders would be quiet.
They would not want to say anything.

11 Everyone was very pleased
to listen to the things that I said.
They respected me
when they saw the things that I did.
12 When poor people cried for help,
I rescued them.
I helped children
who had no family that could help them.
13 People who were near to death praised me for my help.
Widows were happy when I helped them.
14 I always did what was right,
like good clothes that I wore.
I was fair and honest,
like my coat and my hat. [ b ]
15 If people were blind,
I would be their guide.
If people could not walk,
I would fetch things for them.
16 If poor people needed help,
I helped them like their father would do.
I spoke on behalf of strangers
to help them get justice.
17 I destroyed the power of wicked people.
I rescued the people that they had attacked.

18 At that time, I thought,
“I will live to be an old man.
After a long life, I will die in my own home.
19 My body is strong and well,
like a tree that always has plenty of water.
20 People will continue to give me honour.
Each day I will have new strength.”

21 People waited patiently to hear to my advice.
They listened carefully to what I said.
22 After I had spoken,
they did not say any more.
They listened to every word
and they thought about it.
23 They would wait for me to speak to them,
like people who wait for rain to fall.
My words would make them happy,
like rain in spring that makes a farmer happy.
24 They were surprised when I smiled at them.
My smile made them happy.
25 As their leader,
I told them what they should do.
I was like a king who leads his soldiers.
When they were sad,
I would comfort them.’

Footnotes

  1. 29:1 In chapter 29, Job remembers his life before he had all his troubles. He was a happy man and God was always with him. He remembers, too, all the people that he helped.
  2. 29:14 Job is saying that he would not forget to dress himself in good clothes. In the same way, he would always remember to do what was right and honest.

Job Continues His Speech

29 Job continued to speak:

2 “I wish my life could be the same as it was a few months ago,
when God watched over me and cared for me.
3 God’s light shined above me,
so I could walk through the darkness.
4 I wish for the days when I was successful,
when I enjoyed God’s friendship and blessing in my home.
5 God All-Powerful was still with me then,
and my children were all around me.
6 Life was so good that I washed my feet in cream
and had plenty of the finest oils. [ a ]

7 “Those were the days when I went to the city gate
and sat in the public meeting of the elders.
8 When the young men saw me coming, they stepped out of my way.
And the old men stood up to show they respected me.
9 The leaders of the people stopped talking
and put their hands over their mouths.
10 Even the most important leaders were quiet,
as if their tongues were stuck to the roof of their mouths.
11 All who heard me said good things about me.
Those who saw what I did praised me,
12 because I helped the poor when they cried out.
I helped the orphans who had no one to care for them.
13 People who were dying asked God to bless me.
My help brought joy to widows in need.
14 Right living was my clothing.
Fairness was my robe and turban.
15 I was like eyes for the blind,
like feet for the crippled.
16 I was like a father to the poor.
I helped people I didn’t even know win their case in court.
17 I stopped evil people from abusing their power
and saved innocent people from them. [ b ]

18 “I always thought I would live a long life,
growing old with my family around me.
19 I was like a healthy plant with roots that have plenty of water
and branches that are wet with dew.
20 I thought each new day would bring more honor
and be full of new possibilities. [ c ]

21 “In the past people listened to me.
They waited quietly for my advice.
22 When I finished speaking, they had nothing more to say.
My words fell gently on their ears.
23 They waited for my words as they would for rain.
They drank them in like rain in the springtime.
24 I smiled at them, and they could hardly believe it.
My smile made them feel better.
25 I was their leader and made decisions about their future.
I was like a king among his troops, comforting those who were sad.

Footnotes

  1. Job 29:6 had plenty of the finest oils Literally, “Around the anointed rock near me were streams of oil.” This probably means Job had so much olive oil that there were streams of oil running down the altar from the part Job gave as a gift to God.
  2. Job 29:17 Literally, “I shattered the teeth of the crooked and snatched the victims from their teeth.”
  3. Job 29:20 Literally, “My glory is new with me and my bow in my hand renewed.” The words “glory” and “bow” might both refer to a rainbow—the promise of good weather after a storm. Or this might be understood as, “My soul feels new every day, my hand always strong enough to shoot a new bow.”

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.

Job’s Past Was Glorious

29 Job again took up his ( A ) discourse and said,

2 “Oh that I were as in months gone by,
As in the days when God ( B ) watched over me;
3 When ( C ) His lamp shone over my head,
And ( D ) by His light I walked through darkness;
4 Just as I was in the days of my youth,
When the ( E ) protection of God was over my tent;
5 When [ a ] the Almighty was still with me,
And my children were around me;
6 When my steps were bathed in ( F ) cream,
And the ( G ) rock poured out streams of oil for me!
7 When I went out to ( H ) the gate of the city,
When I [ b ] took my seat in the public square,
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves,
And the old men arose and stood.
9 The leaders ( I ) stopped talking
And ( J ) put their hands on their mouths;
10 The voices of the prominent people were [ c ] ( K ) hushed,
And their ( L ) tongues stuck to their palates.
11 For when ( M ) an ear heard, it called me blessed,
And when an eye saw, it testified in support of me,
12 Because I saved ( N ) the poor who cried for help,
And the ( O ) orphan who had no helper.
13 The blessing of the one who ( P ) was about to perish came upon me,
And I made the ( Q ) widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 I ( R ) put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was like a robe and a headband.
15 I was ( S ) eyes to those who were blind,
And feet to those who [ d ] could not walk.
16 I was a father to ( T ) the poor,
And I investigated the case which I did not know.
17 I ( U ) broke the jaws of the wicked
And rescued the prey from his teeth.
18 Then I [ e ] thought, ‘I will die with my [ f ] family,
And I will multiply my days as the sand.
19 My ( V ) root is spread out to the waters,
And ( W ) dew lies on my branch all night.
20 My glory is ever new with me,
And my ( X ) bow is renewed in my hand.’

21 “To me ( Y ) they listened and waited,
And they kept silent for my advice.
22 After my words ( Z ) they did not speak again,
And ( AA ) my speech dropped on them.
23 They waited for me as for the rain,
And opened their mouths as for the late rain.
24 I smiled at them when they did not believe,
And they did not look at [ g ] my kindness ungraciously.
25 I chose a way for them and sat as ( AB ) chief,
And lived as a king among the troops,
As one who ( AC ) comforted the mourners.

Footnotes

  1. Job 29:5 Heb Shaddai
  2. Job 29:7 Lit set up
  3. Job 29:10 Lit hidden
  4. Job 29:15 Or limped
  5. Job 29:18 Lit said
  6. Job 29:18 Lit nest
  7. Job 29:24 Lit the light of my face

Job’s Final Defense

29 Job continued his discourse: ( A )

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

7 “When I went to the gate ( L ) of the city
and took my seat in the public square,
8 the young men saw me and stepped aside ( M )
and the old men rose to their feet; ( N )
9 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.
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