Job Wishes for the Old Days

1Then Job continued with his discourse:

2“I wish I could go back to how things were a few months ago;

when God used to watch over me,

3when his lamp used to shine over my head,

so I could walk through the dark,

4like when I was in my prime

and God trusted me with his secrets!a

5“The Almighty was still with me back then,

and my children were still around me.

6I was successful wherever I went,b

and even the rocks poured out streams of olive oil for me.”

Job Remembers His Respected Position

7“Whenever I went out to the city gate,

a seat had been reserved for me in the plaza.c

8The young men would see me and withdraw,

and the aged would rise and stand.

9Nobles would refrain from speaking,

covering their mouths with their hands.

10The voices of the commanders-in-chiefd were hushed,

and their tongues would cling to the roofs of their mouths.”

Job Remembers His Acts of Kindness

11“When people heard me speak, they blessed me;

when people saw me, they approved me,

12because I delivered the poor who were crying for help,

along with orphans who had no one to help them.

13Those who were about to die blessed me,

and I made widows sing for joy.

14I put on righteousness like clothing;

my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.

15I served as eyes for the blind

and feet for the lame.

16I was a father to the needy;

I diligently inquired into the case of those I didn’t know.

17I broke the fangs of the wicked,

and made him drop the prey.”

Job Remembers His Previous Condition

18“I used to say: ‘I will die in my home.e

I’m going to live as many days

as there are grains of sand on the shore.f

19My roots have spread out and have found water,

and dew settles at night on my branches.

20My glory renews for me

and my bow is as good as new in my hand.’

21“They listened and waited for me,

as they remained in silence for my counsel.

22After I spoke, they had nothing to say,

when what I said hit them.

23They waited for me as one waits for rain,

as one opens his mouth to drink in a spring rain shower.

24I smiled at them when they had no confidence,

and no one could discourage me.

25I set an example of the way to live,g as a leader would;

I lived like a king among his army;

like one who comforts mourners.”