Job 29
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1Then Job continued with his discourse:1Job continued his discourse:
2"I wish I could go back to how things were a few months ago; when God used to watch over me,2"How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,
3when his lamp used to shine over my head, so I could walk through the dark,3when his lamp shone on my head and by his light I walked through darkness!
4like when I was in my prime and God trusted me with his secrets! 4Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house,
5"The Almighty was still with me back then, and my children were still around me.5when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,
6I was successful wherever I went, and even the rocks poured out streams of olive oil for me."6when my path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil.
7"Whenever I went out to the city gate, a seat had been reserved for me in the plaza. 7"When I went to the gate of the city and took my seat in the public square,
8The young men would see me and withdraw, and the aged would rise and stand.8the young men saw me and stepped aside and the old men rose to their feet;
9Nobles would refrain from speaking, covering their mouths with their hands.9the chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;
10The voices of the commanders-in-chief were hushed, and their tongues would cling to the roofs of their mouths."10the voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
11"When people heard me speak, they blessed me; when people saw me, they approved me,11Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me,
12because I delivered the poor who were crying for help, along with orphans who had no one to help them.12because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them.
13Those who were about to die blessed me, and I made widows sing for joy.13The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow's heart sing.
14I put on righteousness like clothing; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.14I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban.
15I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.15I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
16I was a father to the needy; I diligently inquired into the case of those I didn't know.16I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger.
17I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop the prey."17I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth.
18"I used to say: 'I will die in my home. I'm going to live as many days as there are grains of sand on the shore. 18"I thought, 'I will die in my own house, my days as numerous as the grains of sand.
19My roots have spread out and have found water, and dew settles at night on my branches.19My roots will reach to the water, and the dew will lie all night on my branches.
20My glory renews for me and my bow is as good as new in my hand.'20My glory will not fade; the bow will be ever new in my hand.'
21"They listened and waited for me, as they remained in silence for my counsel.21"People listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel.
22After I spoke, they had nothing to say, when what I said hit them.22After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears.
23They waited for me as one waits for rain, as one opens his mouth to drink in a spring rain shower.23They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain.
24I smiled at them when they had no confidence, and no one could discourage me.24When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them.
25I set an example of the way to live, as a leader would; I lived like a king among his army; like one who comforts mourners."25I chose the way for them and sat as their chief; I dwelt as a king among his troops; I was like one who comforts mourners.
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Job 28
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