Job 29:7-25
New American Standard Bible
7 When I went out to (A)the gate of the city,
When I [a]took my seat in the public square,
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves,
And the old men arose and stood.
9 The leaders (B)stopped talking
And (C)put their hands on their mouths;
10 The voices of the prominent people were [b](D)hushed,
And their (E)tongues stuck to their palates.
11 For when (F)an ear heard, it called me blessed,
And when an eye saw, it testified in support of me,
12 Because I saved (G)the poor who cried for help,
And the (H)orphan who had no helper.
13 The blessing of the one who (I)was about to perish came upon me,
And I made the (J)widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 I (K)put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was like a robe and a headband.
15 I was (L)eyes to those who were blind,
And feet to those who [c]could not walk.
16 I was a father to (M)the poor,
And I investigated the case which I did not know.
17 I (N)broke the jaws of the wicked
And rescued the prey from his teeth.
18 Then I [d]thought, ‘I will die with my [e]family,
And I will multiply my days as the sand.
19 My (O)root is spread out to the waters,
And (P)dew lies on my branch all night.
20 My glory is ever new with me,
And my (Q)bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 “To me (R)they listened and waited,
And they kept silent for my advice.
22 After my words (S)they did not speak again,
And (T)my speech dropped on them.
23 They waited for me as for the rain,
And opened their mouths as for the late rain.
24 I smiled at them when they did not believe,
And they did not look at [f]my kindness ungraciously.
25 I chose a way for them and sat as (U)chief,
And lived as a king among the troops,
As one who (V)comforted the mourners.
Job 29:7-25
Common English Bible
Previous honor
7 When I went out to the city gate,
took my seat in the square,
8 the young saw me and drew back;
the old rose and stood;
9 princes restrained speech,
put their hand on their mouth;
10 the voices of officials were hushed,
their tongue stuck to their palate.
Job’s implementation of justice
11 Indeed, the ear that heard blessed me;
the eye that looked commended me,
12 because I rescued the weak who cried out,
the orphans who lacked help.
13 The blessing of the perishing reached me;
I made the widow’s heart sing;
14 I put on justice, and it clothed me,
righteousness as my coat and turban;
15 I was eyes to the blind,
feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy;
the case I didn’t know, I examined.
17 I shattered the fangs of the wicked,
rescued prey from their teeth.
Job’s expected blessing
18 I thought, I’ll die in my nest,
multiply days like sand,[a]
19 my roots opening to water,
dew lingering on my branches,
20 my honor newly with me,
my bow ever successful in my hand.
Previous honor
21 People listened to me and waited,
were silent for my advice.
22 After my speech, they didn’t respond.
My words fell gently on them;
23 they waited for me as for rain,
opened their mouth as for spring rain.
24 I smiled[b] on them; they couldn’t believe it.
They never showed me disfavor.
25 I decided their path, sat as chief.
I lived like a king with his troops,
like one who comforts mourners.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible