Summary
- Job reflected his glorious past – how others treated him with ulmost respect.
Job 29:1-25
[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]Those 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.