Job 29

Job’s Final Claim of Innocence

1 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!  * 29:3 Jb 11:17; Ps 18:28; 119:105

4 I would be as I was in the days of my youth

when God’s friendship  * 29:4 Ps 25:14; 55:14; Pr 3:32 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 curds

and the rock  * 29:6 Dt 32:13; Jb 20:17; Ps 81:16 poured out streams of oil for me!

7 When I went out to the city gate  * 29:7 Dt 25:7; 2Sm 15:2; 2Ch 32:6; Ps 69:12; Am 5:10

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.  * 29:9 Jdg 18:19; Jb 21:5; 40:4

10 The noblemen’s voices were hushed,

and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.  * 29:10 Ps 22:15; Ezk 3:26

11 When they heard me, they blessed me,

and when they saw me, they spoke well of me.  * 29:11 Lit When an ear heard, it called me blessed, and when an eye saw, it testified for me

12 For I rescued the poor who cried out for help,

and the fatherless child who had no one to support him.  * 29:12 Ex 22:22; Dt 24:17; 27:19; Jb 6:27; 31:21; Ps 10:14; 72:12; Pr 21:13

13 The dying blessed me,

and I made the widow’s heart rejoice.

14 I clothed myself in righteousness,  * 29:14 Ps 132:9; Is 59:17; Eph 6:14

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.  * 29:15 Is 35:6; 42:7,16; Mt 11:5

16 I was a father to the needy,

and I examined the case of the stranger.

17 I shattered the fangs of the unjust  * 29:17 Jb 4:10; Ps 3:7; 58:6

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.  * 29:18 Or as the phoenix

19 My roots will have access to water,  * 29:19 Jb 14:9; Ps 1:3; Ezk 31:7

and the dew will rest on my branches all night.

20 My whole being will be refreshed within me,

and my bow will be renewed in my hand."  * 29:20 Gn 49:24; Is 40:31; 41:1

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.  * 29:22 Dt 32:2

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  * 29:24 Lit they did not cast down  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.