Job 29:7-25
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
7 When I went out to the gate of the city,
when I took my seat in the square,
8 the young men saw me and withdrew,
and the aged rose up and stood;
9 the nobles refrained from talking
and laid their hands on their mouths;(A)
10 the voices of princes were hushed,
and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.(B)
11 When the ear heard, it commended me,
and when the eye saw, it approved,
12 because I delivered the poor who cried
and the orphan who had no helper.(C)
13 The blessing of the wretched came upon me,
and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.(D)
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
my justice was like a robe and a turban.(E)
15 I was eyes to the blind
and feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy,
and I championed the cause of the stranger.(F)
17 I broke the fangs of the unrighteous
and made them drop their prey from their teeth.(G)
18 Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest,
and I shall multiply my days like the phoenix;[a](H)
19 my roots spread out to the waters,
with the dew all night on my branches;(I)
20 my glory was fresh with me
and my bow ever new in my hand.’(J)
21 “They listened to me and waited
and kept silence for my counsel.(K)
22 After I spoke they did not speak again,
and my word dropped upon them like dew.[b](L)
23 They waited for me as for the rain;
they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.
24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence,
and the light of my countenance they did not extinguish.[c]
25 I chose what they should do and sat as chief,
and I lived like a king among his troops,
like one who comforts mourners.(M)
Job 29:7-25
International Standard Version
Job Remembers His Respected Position
7 “Whenever I went out to the city gate,
a seat had been reserved for me in the plaza.[a]
8 The young men would see me and withdraw,
and the aged would rise and stand.
9 Nobles would refrain from speaking,
covering their mouths with their hands.
10 The voices of the commanders-in-chief[b] were hushed,
and their tongues would cling to the roofs of their mouths.”
Job Remembers His Acts of Kindness
11 “When people heard me speak, they blessed me;
when people saw me, they approved me,
12 because I delivered the poor who were crying for help,
along with orphans who had no one to help them.
13 Those who were about to die blessed me,
and I made widows sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness like clothing;
my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.
15 I served as eyes for the blind
and feet for the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy;
I diligently inquired into the case of those I didn’t know.
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked,
and made him drop the prey.”
Job Remembers His Previous Condition
18 “I used to say: ‘I will die in my home.[c]
I’m going to live as many days
as there are grains of sand on the shore.[d]
19 My roots have spread out and have found water,
and dew settles at night on my branches.
20 My glory renews for me
and my bow is as good as new in my hand.’
21 “They listened and waited for me,
as they remained in silence for my counsel.
22 After I spoke, they had nothing to say,
when what I said hit them.
23 They waited for me as one waits for rain,
as one opens his mouth to drink in a spring rain shower.
24 I smiled at them when they had no confidence,
and no one could discourage me.
25 I set an example of the way to live,[e] as a leader would;
I lived like a king among his army;
like one who comforts mourners.”
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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