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29:1  Job continues:
29:2  “Oh, for the years gone by when God took care of me,
29:3  when he lighted the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness;
29:4  yes, in my early years, when the friendship of God was felt in my home;
29:5  when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me;
29:6  when my projects prospered and even the rock poured out streams of olive oil to me!
29:7  “Those were the days when I went out to the city gate and took my place among the honored elders.
29:8  The young saw me and stepped aside, and even the aged rose and stood up in respect at my coming.
29:9  The princes stood in silence and laid their hands upon their mouths.
29:10  The highest officials of the city stood in quietness.
29:11  All rejoiced in what I said. All who saw me spoke well of me.
29:12  “For I, as an honest judge, helped the poor in their need and the fatherless who had no one to help them.
29:13  I helped those who were ready to perish, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
29:14  All I did was just and honest, for righteousness was my clothing!
29:15  I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
29:16  I was as a father to the poor and saw to it that even strangers received a fair trial.
29:17  I knocked out the fangs of the godless oppressors and made them drop their victims.
29:18  “I thought, ‘Surely I shall die quietly in my nest after a long, good life.’
29:19  For everything I did prospered; the dew lay all night upon my fields and watered them.
29:20  Fresh honors were constantly given me, and my abilities were constantly refreshed and renewed.
29:21  Everyone listened to me and valued my advice, and was silent until I spoke.
29:22  And after I spoke, they spoke no more, for my counsel satisfied them.
29:23  They longed for me to speak as those in drought-time long for rain. They waited eagerly with open mouths.
29:24  When they were discouraged, I smiled and that encouraged them and lightened their spirits.
29:25  I told them what they should do and corrected them as their chief, or as a king instructs his army, and as one who comforts those who mourn.