Job 29 WBT
Summary: Job begins his final extended defense by nostalgically recalling the blessed days before his calamity, when God's friendship illuminated his path, his children were around him, and his steps were washed with cream and rock poured out oil for him in abundance. He recalls the honor he commanded at the city gate, where young men withdrew and old men stood in his presence, and princes refrained from speaking as they awaited his counsel. Job describes himself in that former life as a rescuer of the poor, the fatherless, and the dying, a champion of the widow's cause and a terror to the unjust, respected by all as a wise and compassionate leader, "and they waited for me as for the rain" (v. 23).
1Moreover, Job continued his parable, and said,
2Oh that I were as [in] months past, as [in] the days [when] God preserved me;
3When his candle shined upon my head, [and when] by his light I walked [through] darkness;
4As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God [was] upon my tabernacle;
5When the Almighty [was] yet with me, [when] my children [were] about me;
6When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7When I went out to the gate through the city, [when] I prepared my seat in the street!
8The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, [and] stood up.
9The princes refrained talking, and laid [their] hand on their mouth.
10The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me; and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me:
12Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and [him that had] none to help him.
13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment [was] as a robe and a diadem.
15I was eyes to the blind, and feet [was] I to the lame.
16I [was] a father to the poor: and the cause [which] I knew not I searched out.
17And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
18Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply [my] days as the sand.
19My root [was] spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20My glory [was] fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21To me [men] gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
23And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain.
24[If] I laughed on them, they believed [it] not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one [that] comforteth the mourners.
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