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29:1  Job continued to speak. This is what he said:
29:2  ‘I would like my life to be as it was before, many months ago. At that time, God took care of me.
29:3  He was my guide, as if he had a lamp to show me the way. His light kept me safe as I walked in dark places.
29:4  I was strong and well. God was my friend and he protected my home.
29:5  At that time, Almighty God was still with me. My children were near me.
29:6  I got plenty of milk from my cows, so that my life was easy. My olive trees gave me lots of oil.
29:7  I would go to the gate of the city, and sit there as one of the leaders.
29:8  When young men saw me, they would move to the side. Even the old men would stand up to respect me.
29:9  The city's rulers would stop speaking. They would cover their mouths with their hands.
29:10  The important leaders would be quiet. They would not want to say anything.
29:11  Everyone was very pleased to listen to the things that I said. They respected me when they saw the things that I did.
29:12  When poor people cried for help, I rescued them. I helped children who had no family that could help them.
29:13  People who were near to death praised me for my help. Widows were happy when I helped them.
29:14  I always did what was right, like good clothes that I wore. I was fair and honest, like my coat and my hat.
29:15  If people were blind, I would be their guide. If people could not walk, I would fetch things for them.
29:16  If poor people needed help, I helped them like their father would do. I spoke on behalf of strangers to help them get justice.
29:17  I destroyed the power of wicked people. I rescued the people that they had attacked.
29:18  At that time, I thought, “I will live to be an old man. After a long life, I will die in my own home.
29:19  My body is strong and well, like a tree that always has plenty of water.
29:20  People will continue to give me honour. Each day I will have new strength.”
29:21  People waited patiently to hear to my advice. They listened carefully to what I said.
29:22  After I had spoken, they did not say any more. They listened to every word and they thought about it.
29:23  They would wait for me to speak to them, like people who wait for rain to fall. My words would make them happy, like rain in spring that makes a farmer happy.
29:24  They were surprised when I smiled at them. My smile made them happy.
29:25  As their leader, I told them what they should do. I was like a king who leads his soldiers. When they were sad, I would comfort them.’