When God Was Still by My Side

29 1-6 Job now resumed his response:

“Oh, how I long for the good old days,
    when God took such very good care of me.
He always held a lamp before me
    and I walked through the dark by its light.
Oh, how I miss those golden years
    when God’s friendship graced my home,
When the Mighty One was still by my side
    and my children were all around me,
When everything was going my way,
    and nothing seemed too difficult.

7-20 “When I walked downtown
    and sat with my friends in the public square,
Young and old greeted me with respect;
    I was honored by everyone in town.
When I spoke, everyone listened;
    they hung on my every word.
People who knew me spoke well of me;
    my reputation went ahead of me.
I was known for helping people in trouble
    and standing up for those who were down on their luck.
The dying blessed me,
    and the bereaved were cheered by my visits.
All my dealings with people were good.
    I was known for being fair to everyone I met.
I was eyes to the blind
    and feet to the lame,
Father to the needy,
    and champion of abused aliens.
I grabbed street thieves by the scruff of the neck
    and made them give back what they’d stolen.
I thought, ‘I’ll die peacefully in my own bed,
    grateful for a long and full life,
A life deep-rooted and well-watered,
    a life limber and dew-fresh,
My soul soaked through with glory
    and my body robust until the day I die.’

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when my path was drenched with cream(A)
    and the rock(B) poured out for me streams of olive oil.(C)

“When I went to the gate(D) of the city
    and took my seat in the public square,
the young men saw me and stepped aside(E)
    and the old men rose to their feet;(F)
the chief men refrained from speaking(G)
    and covered their mouths with their hands;(H)
10 the voices of the nobles were hushed,(I)
    and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.(J)
11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me,
    and those who saw me commended me,(K)
12 because I rescued the poor(L) who cried for help,
    and the fatherless(M) who had none to assist them.(N)
13 The one who was dying blessed me;(O)
    I made the widow’s(P) heart sing.
14 I put on righteousness(Q) as my clothing;
    justice was my robe and my turban.(R)
15 I was eyes(S) to the blind
    and feet to the lame.(T)
16 I was a father to the needy;(U)
    I took up the case(V) of the stranger.(W)
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked
    and snatched the victims(X) from their teeth.(Y)

18 “I thought, ‘I will die in my own house,
    my days as numerous as the grains of sand.(Z)
19 My roots will reach to the water,(AA)
    and the dew will lie all night on my branches.(AB)
20 My glory will not fade;(AC)
    the bow(AD) will be ever new in my hand.’(AE)

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When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

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When (A)my steps were bathed with [a]cream,
And (B)the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!

“When I went out to the gate by the city,
When I took my seat in the open square,
The young men saw me and hid,
And the aged arose and stood;
The princes refrained from talking,
And (C)put their hand on their mouth;
10 The voice of nobles was hushed,
And their (D)tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard, then it blessed me,
And when the eye saw, then it approved me;
12 Because (E)I delivered the poor who cried out,
The fatherless and the one who had no helper.
13 The blessing of a perishing man came upon me,
And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14 (F)I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 I was (G)eyes to the blind,
And I was feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor,
And (H)I searched out the case that I did not know.
17 I broke (I)the fangs of the wicked,
And plucked the victim from his teeth.

18 “Then I said, (J)‘I shall die in my nest,
And multiply my days as the sand.
19 (K)My root is spread out (L)to the waters,
And the dew lies all night on my branch.
20 My glory is fresh within me,
And my (M)bow is renewed in my hand.’

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Footnotes

  1. Job 29:6 So with ancient vss. and a few Heb. mss. (cf. Job 20:17); MT wrath

When God Was Still by My Side

29 1-6 Job now resumed his response:

“Oh, how I long for the good old days,
    when God took such very good care of me.
He always held a lamp before me
    and I walked through the dark by its light.
Oh, how I miss those golden years
    when God’s friendship graced my home,
When the Mighty One was still by my side
    and my children were all around me,
When everything was going my way,
    and nothing seemed too difficult.

7-20 “When I walked downtown
    and sat with my friends in the public square,
Young and old greeted me with respect;
    I was honored by everyone in town.
When I spoke, everyone listened;
    they hung on my every word.
People who knew me spoke well of me;
    my reputation went ahead of me.
I was known for helping people in trouble
    and standing up for those who were down on their luck.
The dying blessed me,
    and the bereaved were cheered by my visits.
All my dealings with people were good.
    I was known for being fair to everyone I met.
I was eyes to the blind
    and feet to the lame,
Father to the needy,
    and champion of abused aliens.
I grabbed street thieves by the scruff of the neck
    and made them give back what they’d stolen.
I thought, ‘I’ll die peacefully in my own bed,
    grateful for a long and full life,
A life deep-rooted and well-watered,
    a life limber and dew-fresh,
My soul soaked through with glory
    and my body robust until the day I die.’

Read full chapter

when my path was drenched with cream(A)
    and the rock(B) poured out for me streams of olive oil.(C)

“When I went to the gate(D) of the city
    and took my seat in the public square,
the young men saw me and stepped aside(E)
    and the old men rose to their feet;(F)

Read full chapter

When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

Read full chapter

When (A)my steps were bathed with [a]cream,
And (B)the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!

“When I went out to the gate by the city,
When I took my seat in the open square,
The young men saw me and hid,
And the aged arose and stood;

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 29:6 So with ancient vss. and a few Heb. mss. (cf. Job 20:17); MT wrath