Job 29:7–14

7 “When I went to the gate of the city

and took my seat in the public square,

8 the young men saw me and stepped aside

and the old men rose to their feet;

9 the chief men refrained from speaking

and covered their mouths with their hands;

10 the voices of the nobles were hushed,

and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me,

and those who saw me commended me,

12 because I rescued the poor who cried for help,

and the fatherless who had none to assist them.

13 The one who was dying blessed me;

I made the widow’s heart sing.

14 I put on righteousness as my clothing;

justice was my robe and my turban.

7 When I went out to the gate through the city,

When I prepared my seat in the street!

8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves:

And the aged arose, and stood up.

9 The princes refrained talking,

And laid their hand on their mouth.

10 The nobles held their peace,

And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me;

And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

12 Because I delivered the poor that cried,

And the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me:

And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me:

My judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

7 “Those were the days when I went to the city gate

and took my place among the honored leaders.

8 The young stepped aside when they saw me,

and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.

9 The princes stood in silence

and put their hands over their mouths.

10 The highest officials of the city stood quietly,

holding their tongues in respect.

11 “All who heard me praised me.

All who saw me spoke well of me.

12 For I assisted the poor in their need

and the orphans who required help.

13 I helped those without hope, and they blessed me.

And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.

14 Everything I did was honest.

Righteousness covered me like a robe,

and I wore justice like a turban.

7 “When I went out to the gate by the city,

When I took my seat in the open square,

8 The young men saw me and hid,

And the aged arose and stood;

9 The princes refrained from talking,

And put their hand on their mouth;

10 The voice of nobles was hushed,

And their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.

11 When the ear heard, then it blessed me,

And when the eye saw, then it approved me;

12 Because I delivered the poor who cried out,

The fatherless and the one who had no helper.

13 The blessing of a perishing man came upon me,

And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

My justice was like a robe and a turban.

7 I would go to the city gate

and sit in the public square.

8 When the young men saw me, they would step aside,

and the old men would stand up in respect.

9 The leading men stopped speaking

and covered their mouths with their hands.

10 The voices of the important men were quiet,

as if their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11 Anyone who heard me spoke well of me,

and those who saw me praised me,

12 because I saved the poor who called out

and the orphan who had no one to help.

13 The dying person blessed me,

and I made the widow’s heart sing.

14 I put on right living as if it were clothing;

I wore fairness like a robe and a turban.

7 When I went forth to the gate unto the city,

When I prepared my seat in the street,

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves,

And the aged rose up and stood;

9 The princes refrained from talking,

And laid their hand on their mouth;

10 The voice of the nobels was hushed,

And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me;

And when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me:

12 Because I delivered the poor that cried,

The fatherless also, that had none to help him.

13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me;

And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me:

My justice was as a robe and a diadem.

7 When I went out to the gate by the city, when I prepared my seat on the broadway, 8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged arose and stood up; 9 Princes refrained from talking, and laid the hand on their mouth; 10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to their palate. 11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me; 12 For I delivered the afflicted that cried, and the fatherless who had no helper. 13 The blessing of him that was perishing came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was as a mantle and a turban.

7 When I went through the city gate 

and took my seat in the town square, 

8 young men saw me and kept out of sight. 

Old men stood up straight out of respect ⸤for me⸥. 

9 Princes held back ⸤their⸥ words 

and put their hands over their mouths. 

10 The voices of nobles were hushed, 

and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths. 

11 “⸤Any⸥ ears that heard me blessed me. 

⸤Any⸥ eyes that saw me spoke well of me, 

12 because I rescued the poor who called ⸤for help⸥ 

and the orphans who had no one to help them. 

13 I received a blessing from the dying. 

I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. 

14 I put on righteousness, and it was my clothing. 

I practiced justice, and it was my robe and my turban. 

7 When I went out to the city gate

and took my seat in the town square,

8 the young men saw me and withdrew,

while older men stood to their feet.

9 City officials stopped talking

and covered their mouths with their hands.

10 The noblemen’s voices were hushed,

and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11 When they heard me, they blessed me,

and when they saw me, they spoke well of me.

12 For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help,

and the fatherless child who had no one to support him.

13 The dying man blessed me,

and I made the widow’s heart rejoice.

14 I clothed myself in righteousness,

and it enveloped me;

my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.

7 When I went out to the gate of the city,

when I took my seat in the square,

8 the young men saw me and withdrew,

and the aged rose up and stood;

9 the nobles refrained from talking

and laid their hands on their mouths;

10 the voices of princes were hushed,

and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

11 When the ear heard, it commended me,

and when the eye saw, it approved,

12 because I delivered the poor who cried

and the orphan who had no helper.

13 The blessing of the wretched came upon me,

and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

my justice was like a robe and a turban.

7 “At my going out the gate to the city,

I secured my seat in the square.

8 Young men saw me and stepped aside,

and the aged rose up and stood.

9 Officials refrained from talking,

and they laid their hand on their mouth.

10 The voices of nobles were hushed,

and their tongue stuck to their palate.

11 “When the ear heard and commended me,

and the eye saw and testified in support of me

12 because I saved the needy who cried for help,

and I saved the orphan for whom there was no helper.

13 The blessing of the wretched came upon me,

and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

my justice was like a robe and a headband.

7 “In those days I went to the city gate.

I took my seat as a member of the council.

8 Young people who saw me stepped to one side.

Old people stood up as I approached.

9 The leaders stopped speaking.

They covered their mouths with their hands.

10 The voices of the nobles became quiet.

Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

11 Everyone who heard me said good things about me.

Those who saw me honored me.

12 That’s because I saved poor people who cried out for help.

I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.

13 Those who were dying gave me their blessing.

I made the hearts of widows sing.

14 I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes.

Fairness was my robe and my turban.

7 “When I went out to the gate of the city,

When I took my seat in the square,

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves,

And the old men arose and stood.

9 “The princes stopped talking

And put their hands on their mouths;

10 The voice of the nobles was hushed,

And their tongue stuck to their palate.

11 “For when the ear heard, it called me blessed,

And when the eye saw, it gave witness of me,

12 Because I delivered the poor who cried for help,

And the orphan who had no helper.

13 “The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me,

And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

14 “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

My justice was like a robe and a turban.