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29:1  And Job again took up his discussion and said,
29:2  “Oh, that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me,
29:3  When His lamp shone upon my head And by His light I walked through darkness;
29:4  As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship and counsel of God were over my tent,
29:5  When the Almighty was still with me And my boys were around me,
29:6  When my steps [through rich pastures] were washed with butter and cream [from my livestock], And the rock poured out for me streams of oil [from my olive groves].
29:7  “When I went out to the gate of the city, When I took my seat [as a city father] in the square,
29:8  The young men saw me and hid themselves, The aged arose and stood [respectfully];
29:9  The princes stopped talking And put their hands on their mouths;
29:10  The voices of the nobles were hushed, And their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
29:11  “For when an ear heard [my name mentioned], it called me happy and fortunate; And when an eye saw [me], it testified for me [approvingly],
29:12  Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, And the orphan who had no helper.
29:13  “The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
29:14  “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban!
29:15  “I was eyes to the blind And I was feet to the lame.
29:16  “I was a father to the needy; I investigated the case I did not know [and assured justice].
29:17  “And I smashed the jaws of the wicked And snatched the prey from his teeth.
29:18  “Then I said, ‘I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand.
29:19  ‘My root is spread out and open to the waters, And the dew lies all night upon my branch.
29:20  ‘My glory and honor are fresh in me [being constantly renewed], And my bow gains [ever] new strength in my hand.’
29:21  “They listened to me and waited And kept silent for my counsel.
29:22  “After I spoke, they did not speak again, And my speech dropped upon them [like a refreshing shower].
29:23  “They waited for me [and for my words] as for the rain, And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.
29:24  “I smiled at them when they did not believe, And they did not diminish the light of my face.
29:25  “I chose a way for them and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king among his soldiers, As one who comforts mourners.