Job 29 YLT
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).
1And Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: --
2Who doth make me as in months past, As in the days of God's preserving me?
3In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk through darkness.
4As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God upon my tent.
5When yet the Mighty One is with me. Round about me--my young ones,
6When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock is with me rivulets of oil.
7When I go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.
8Seen me have youths, and they, been hidden, And the aged have risen--they stood up.
9Princes have kept in words, And a hand they place on their mouth.
10The voice of leaders hath been hidden, And their tongue to the palate hath cleaved.
11For the ear heard, and declareth me happy, And the eye hath seen, and testifieth to me.
12For I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who hath no helper.
13The blessing of the perishing cometh on me, And the heart of the widow I cause to sing.
14Righteousness I have put on, and it clotheth me, As a robe and a diadem my justice.
15Eyes I have been to the blind, And feet to the lame am I.
16A father I am to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.
17And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.
18And I say, `With my nest I expire, And as the sand I multiply days.'
19My root is open unto the waters, And dew doth lodge on my branch.
20My honour is fresh with me, And my bow in my hand is renewed.
21To me they have hearkened, Yea, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.
22After my word they change not, And on them doth my speech drop,
23And they wait as for rain for me, And their mouth they have opened wide As for the latter rain.
24I laugh unto them--they give no credence, And the light of my face cause not to fall.
25I choose their way, and sit head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When mourners he doth comfort.
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