Job 29
Geneva Study Bible
Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
When his {a} candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through {b} darkness;

(a) When I felt his favour.

(b) I was free from affliction.

As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
As I was in the days of my youth, when the {c} secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

(c) That is, seemed by evident tokens to be more present with me.

When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
When I washed my steps {d} with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

(d) By these comparisons he declares the great prosperity that he was in, so that he had no opportunity to be such a sinner as they accused him.

When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
The young men saw me, and {e} hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

(e) Being ashamed of their lightness and afraid of my gravity.

The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their {f} mouth.

(f) Acknowledging my wisdom.

The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
When the {g} ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

(g) All that heard me, praised me.

Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
Because I delivered the {i} poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

(i) Because his adversaries did so much charge him with wickedness, he is compelled to render account of his life.

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
{k} The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

(k) That is, I helped him who was in distress, and so he had cause to praise me.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
I put on {l} righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

(l) I delighted to do justice, as others did to wear costly apparel.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
Then I said, I shall die in my {m} nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

(m) That is, at home in my bed without all trouble and unquietness.

My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
My root was {n} spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

(n) My happiness increases.

My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
After my words they spake not again; and my speech {o} dropped upon them.

(o) That is, was pleasant to them.

And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide {p} as for the latter rain.

(p) As the dry ground thirsts for the rain.

If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
If I {q} laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they {r} cast not down.

(q) That is, they thought it not to be a rest, or they did not think that I would condescend to them.

(r) They were afraid to offend me and cause me to be angry.

I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
I chose out {s} their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

(s) I had them at commandment.

The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]

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