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29:1  Then Job continued with his discourse:
29:2  "I wish I could go back to how things were a few months ago; when God used to watch over me,
29:3  when his lamp used to shine over my head, so I could walk through the dark,
29:4  like when I was in my prime and God trusted me with his secrets!
29:5  "The Almighty was still with me back then, and my children were still around me.
29:6  I was successful wherever I went, and even the rocks poured out streams of olive oil for me."
29:7  "Whenever I went out to the city gate, a seat had been reserved for me in the plaza.
29:8  The young men would see me and withdraw, and the aged would rise and stand.
29:9  Nobles would refrain from speaking, covering their mouths with their hands.
29:10  The voices of the commanders-in-chief were hushed, and their tongues would cling to the roofs of their mouths."
29:11  "When people heard me speak, they blessed me; when people saw me, they approved me,
29:12  because I delivered the poor who were crying for help, along with orphans who had no one to help them.
29:13  Those who were about to die blessed me, and I made widows sing for joy.
29:14  I put on righteousness like clothing; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.
29:15  I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
29:16  I was a father to the needy; I diligently inquired into the case of those I didn't know.
29:17  I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop the prey."
29:18  "I used to say: 'I will die in my home. I'm going to live as many days as there are grains of sand on the shore.
29:19  My roots have spread out and have found water, and dew settles at night on my branches.
29:20  My glory renews for me and my bow is as good as new in my hand.'
29:21  "They listened and waited for me, as they remained in silence for my counsel.
29:22  After I spoke, they had nothing to say, when what I said hit them.
29:23  They waited for me as one waits for rain, as one opens his mouth to drink in a spring rain shower.
29:24  I smiled at them when they had no confidence, and no one could discourage me.
29:25  I set an example of the way to live, as a leader would; I lived like a king among his army; like one who comforts mourners."