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Job 29 (GN)

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¹ Job began speaking again. ² If only my life could once again be as it was when God watched over me. ³ God was always with me then and gave me light as I walked through the darkness. ⁴ Those were the days when I was prosperous, and the friendship of God protected my home. ⁵ Almighty God was with me then, and I was surrounded by all my children. ⁶ My cows and goats gave plenty of milk, and my olive trees grew in the rockiest soil. ⁷ Whenever the city elders met and I took my place among them, ⁸ young men stepped aside as soon as they saw me, and old men stood up to show me respect. ⁹ The leaders of the people would stop talking; ¹⁰ even the most important men kept silent. ¹¹ Everyone who saw me or heard of me had good things to say about what I had done. ¹² When the poor cried out, I helped them; I gave help to orphans who had nowhere to turn. ¹³ People who were in deepest misery praised me, and I helped widows find security. ¹⁴ I have always acted justly and fairly. ¹⁵ I was eyes for the blind, and feet for the lame. ¹⁶ I was like a father to the poor and took the side of strangers in trouble. ¹⁷ I destroyed the power of cruel men and rescued their victims. ¹⁸ I always expected to live a long life and to die at home in comfort. ¹⁹ I was like a tree whose roots always have water and whose branches are wet with dew. ²⁰ Everyone was always praising me, and my strength never failed me. ²¹ When I gave advice, people were silent and listened carefully to what I said; ²² they had nothing to add when I had finished. My words sank in like drops of rain; ²³ everyone welcomed them just as farmers welcome rain in spring. ²⁴ I smiled on them when they had lost confidence; my cheerful face encouraged them. ²⁵ I took charge and made the decisions; I led them as a king leads his troops, and gave them comfort in their despair.