JobChapter 29

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¹Job went on speaking: ²"How I long for the months that are gone!
I long for the days when God watched over me. ³Back then his lamp shone above my head.
By his light I walked through the darkness. ⁴Back then I was in the best years of my life.
God's friendship rested on my tent. ⁵Back then the Almighty was still with me.
My children were all around me. ⁶My steps were washed in cream.
The rock poured out streams of olive oil for me! ⁷I would go out to the city gate.
I would take my seat in the public square. ⁸The young men saw me and stepped aside.
The old men stood up. ⁹The princes stopped talking.
They covered their mouths with their hands. ¹⁰The voices of the nobles went quiet.
Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths. ¹¹Those who heard me called me blessed.
Those who saw me praised me. ¹²This was because I rescued the poor who cried out.
I rescued the child with no father and no one to help him. ¹³The dying man blessed me.
I made the widow's heart sing for joy. ¹⁴I put on righteousness, and it covered me like clothes.
Justice was my robe and my turban. ¹⁵I was eyes for the blind.
I was feet for those who couldn't walk. ¹⁶I was a father to needy people.
I took up the case of the stranger. ¹⁷I broke the fangs of the unjust.
I grabbed his victims out of his teeth. ¹⁸So I thought, 'I will die in my own nest.
My days will be as many as the grains of sand. ¹⁹My roots will spread out to the waters.
The dew will rest on my branches every night. ²⁰My honor will always be fresh in me.
My bow will stay new in my hand.' ²¹People listened to me with hope.
They waited quietly for my advice. ²²After I spoke, they didn't say any more.
My words fell on them softly like dew. ²³They waited for me as they would wait for rain.
They drank in my words like spring showers. ²⁴When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it.
The light of my face was precious to them. ²⁵I chose the way for them and sat as their chief.
I lived like a king among his troops.
I was like someone who comforts those who mourn.