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29:1  Job continued to speak. He said,
29:2  “How I long for the times when things were better! That’s when God watched over me.
29:3  The light of his lamp shone on me. I walked through darkness by his light.
29:4  Those were the best days of my life. That’s when God’s friendship blessed my house.
29:5  The Mighty One was still with me. My children were all around me.
29:6  The path in front of me was like sweet cream. It was as if the rock poured out olive oil for me.
29:7  “In those days I went to the city gate. I took my seat as a member of the council.
29:8  Young people who saw me stepped to one side. Old people stood up as I approached.
29:9  The leaders stopped speaking. They covered their mouths with their hands.
29:10  The voices of the nobles became quiet. Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
29:11  Everyone who heard me said good things about me. Those who saw me honored me.
29:12  That’s because I saved poor people who cried out for help. I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.
29:13  Those who were dying gave me their blessing. I made the hearts of widows sing.
29:14  I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes. Fairness was my robe and my turban.
29:15  I was like eyes for those who were blind. I was like feet for those who couldn’t walk.
29:16  I was like a father to needy people. I stood up for strangers in court.
29:17  Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth. But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.
29:18  “I thought, ‘I’ll die in my own house. The days of my life will be as many as the grains of sand.
29:19  My roots will reach down to the water. The dew will lie all night on my branches.
29:20  I will remain healthy and strong. My bow will stay as good as new in my hand.’
29:21  “People wanted to hear what I had to say. They waited silently for the advice I gave them.
29:22  After I had spoken, they didn’t speak anymore. My words fell gently on their ears.
29:23  They waited for me just as they would wait for rain showers. They drank my words just as they would drink the spring rain.
29:24  When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it. The light of my face lifted their spirits.
29:25  I chose the way they should go. I sat as their chief. I lived as a king lives among his troops. I was like someone who comforts those who are sad.