Job 29
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1Job continued his discourse:1Job continued speaking:
2"How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,2“I long for the years gone by when God took care of me,
3when his lamp shone on my head and by his light I walked through darkness!3when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness.
4Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house,4When I was in my prime, God’s friendship was felt in my home.
5when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,5The Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me.
6when my path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil.6My steps were awash in cream, and the rocks gushed olive oil for me.
7"When I went to the gate of the city and took my seat in the public square,7“Those were the days when I went to the city gate and took my place among the honored leaders.
8the young men saw me and stepped aside and the old men rose to their feet;8The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.
9the chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;9The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths.
10the voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.10The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect.
11Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me,11“All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me.
12because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them.12For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help.
13The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow's heart sing.13I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
14I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban.14Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban.
15I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.15I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger.16I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help.
17I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth.17I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth.
18"I thought, 'I will die in my own house, my days as numerous as the grains of sand.18“I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life.
19My roots will reach to the water, and the dew will lie all night on my branches.19For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew.
20My glory will not fade; the bow will be ever new in my hand.'20New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.’
21"People listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel.21“Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak.
22After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears.22And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them.
23They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain.23They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.
24When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them.24When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them.
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.25Like a chief, I told them what to do. I lived like a king among his troops and comforted those who mourned.
New International Version (NIV)

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Job 28
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