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29:1  Job took up his subject again:
29:2  Oh, that life was like it used to be, like days when God watched over me;
29:3  when his lamp shone on my head, I walked by his light in the dark;
29:4  when I was in my prime; when God’s counsel was in my tent;
29:5  when the Almighty was with me, my children around me;
29:6  when my steps were washed with cream and a rock poured out pools of oil for me.
29:7  When I went out to the city gate, took my seat in the square,
29:8  the young saw me and drew back; the old rose and stood;
29:9  princes restrained speech, put their hand on their mouth;
29:10  the voices of officials were hushed, their tongue stuck to their palate.
29:11  Indeed, the ear that heard blessed me; the eye that looked commended me,
29:12  because I rescued the weak who cried out, the orphans who lacked help.
29:13  The blessing of the perishing reached me; I made the widow’s heart sing;
29:14  I put on justice, and it clothed me, righteousness as my coat and turban;
29:15  I was eyes to the blind, feet to the lame.
29:16  I was a father to the needy; the case I didn’t know, I examined.
29:17  I shattered the fangs of the wicked, rescued prey from their teeth.
29:18  I thought, I’ll die in my nest, multiply days like sand,
29:19  my roots opening to water, dew lingering on my branches,
29:20  my honor newly with me, my bow ever successful in my hand.
29:21  People listened to me and waited, were silent for my advice.
29:22  After my speech, they didn’t respond. My words fell gently on them;
29:23  they waited for me as for rain, opened their mouth as for spring rain.
29:24  I smiled on them; they couldn’t believe it. They never showed me disfavor.
29:25  I decided their path, sat as chief. I lived like a king with his troops, like one who comforts mourners.