Job 29
GOD’S WORD Translation
Job Continues: My Glorious Past
29 Job continued his poems and said,
2 “If only my life could be like it used to be,
in the days when God watched over me,
3 when he made his lamp shine on my head,
when I walked through the dark in his light.
4 If only I were in the prime of my life ⌞again⌟,
when God was an adviser in my tent.
5 When the Almighty was still with me
and my children were around me,
6 my steps were bathed in buttermilk,
and the rocks poured streams of olive oil on me.
7 When I went through the city gate
and took my seat in the town square,
8 young men saw me and kept out of sight.
Old men stood up straight out of respect ⌞for me⌟.
9 Princes held back ⌞their⌟ words
and put their hands over their mouths.
10 The voices of nobles were hushed,
and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11 “⌞Any⌟ ears that heard me blessed me.
⌞Any⌟ eyes that saw me spoke well of me,
12 because I rescued the poor who called ⌞for help⌟
and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 I received a blessing from the dying.
I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it was my clothing.
I practiced justice, and it was my robe and my turban.
15 I was eyes for the blind person.
I was feet for the lame person.
16 I was father to the needy.
I carefully investigated cases brought by strangers.
17 I broke the teeth of the wicked person
and made him drop the prey out of his mouth.
18 “I thought, ‘I may die in my own house,
but I will make my days as numerous as the sand.
19 My roots will grow toward the water,
and dew will lie on my branches all night.
20 My power will be fresh ⌞every day⌟,
and the bow in my hand will remain new.’
21 “People listened to me eagerly,
quietly waiting for my advice.
22 After I had spoken, they wouldn’t speak again.
After all, my words fell gently on them.
23 They were as eager to hear me as they were for rain.
They opened their mouths wide as if waiting for a spring shower.
24 When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it,
but the expression on my face did not change.
25 I decided how they should live.
I sat as their leader.
I lived like a king among his troops,
like one who comforts mourners.
Job 29
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Job’s Final Claim of Innocence
29 Job continued his discourse, saying:
2 If only I could be as in months gone by,
in the days when God watched over me,
3 when His lamp shone above my head,
and I walked through darkness by His light!(A)
4 I would be as I was in the days of my youth
when God’s friendship(B) rested on my tent,
5 when the Almighty was still with me
and my children were around me,
6 when my feet were bathed in cream
and the rock(C) poured out streams of oil for me!
7 When I went out to the city gate
and took my seat in the town square,
8 the young men saw me and withdrew,
while older men stood to their feet.
9 City officials stopped talking
and covered their mouths with their hands.(D)
10 The noblemen’s voices were hushed,
and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
11 When they heard me, they blessed me,
and when they saw me, they spoke well of me.[a]
12 For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help,
and the fatherless child who had no one to support him.(E)
13 The dying man blessed me,
and I made the widow’s heart rejoice.
14 I clothed myself in righteousness,(F)
and it enveloped me;
my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind
and feet to the lame.(G)
16 I was a father to the needy,
and I examined the case of the stranger.
17 I shattered the fangs of the unjust(H)
and snatched the prey from his teeth.
18 So I thought: I will die in my own nest
and multiply my days as the sand.[b]
19 My roots will have access to water,(I)
and the dew will rest on my branches all night.
20 My strength will be refreshed within me,
and my bow will be renewed in my hand.(J)
21 Men listened to me with expectation,
waiting silently for my advice.
22 After a word from me they did not speak again;
my speech settled on them like dew.
23 They waited for me as for the rain
and opened their mouths as for spring showers.
24 If I smiled at them, they couldn’t believe it;
they were thrilled at[c] the light of my countenance.
25 I directed their course and presided as chief.
I lived as a king among his troops,
like one who comforts those who mourn.
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