Job
Chapter 29
Job keeps speaking, and he looks back at the life he had before his troubles came. He remembers God's care, his children around him, his wealth, and the respect he was given at the city gate. He lists how he helped the poor, the orphan, the widow, the blind and the lame, and how leaders waited in silence for his advice. This memory of his old life sets up the sharp contrast with his present misery in the next chapter.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
1Job went on with his speech. He said:
2Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
2How I wish I were back in the months that are gone, in the days when God watched over me.
3When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
3Back then his lamp shone above my head, and by his light I walked safely through the dark.
4As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
4I wish I were back in my best years, when God's close friendship rested on my home.
5When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
5Back then the Almighty was still with me, and my children were all around me.
6When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
6My steps were washed in cream, and the rock poured out streams of olive oil for me.
Cream and olive oil were signs of a rich, easy life. Job is saying he had far more than he needed.
7When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
7I would go out to the city gate and take my seat in the open square.
The city gate was where leaders met, made decisions, and settled arguments. Having a seat there meant you were respected.
8The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
8The young men saw me and stepped aside. The old men stood up on their feet.
9The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
9The leading men stopped talking. They put a hand over their mouth.
10The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
10The important men went quiet. Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
11Everyone who heard me said good things about me. Everyone who saw me spoke well of me.
12Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
12That was because I rescued poor people who cried for help, and orphans who had no one.
13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
13Dying men blessed me. I made the widow's heart sing for joy.
14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
14I put on right living like clothing. Fair judging was my robe and my turban.
The KJV word "judgment" here means justice, or judging cases fairly. A "diadem" is a headdress worn by an important man.
15I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
15I was eyes for the blind. I was feet for those who could not walk.
16I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
16I was like a father to the poor. I looked into the case of a stranger I did not know.
17And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
17I broke the teeth of cruel men. I pulled what they had stolen right out of their mouths.
18Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
18So I thought: I will die at home in my own nest, with more days than grains of sand.
19My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
19My roots will reach down to the water, and dew will rest on my branches all night.
20My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
20My honor will stay fresh in me, and the bow in my hand will always be strong.
21Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
21People listened to me and waited. They kept quiet to hear my advice.
22After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
22After I had spoken, no one added anything. My words settled on them softly.
23And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
23They waited for me the way people wait for rain. They opened their mouths as if for spring showers.
The "latter rain" was the spring rain that came near harvest time. Farmers longed for it.
24If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
24When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it. My cheerful face meant a great deal to them.
25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
25I chose the path for them and sat as their chief. I lived like a king with his soldiers, like a man who comforts those who mourn.
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