Job’s Final Claim of Innocence

29 Job continued his discourse, saying:

2 If only I could be as in months gone by,

in the days when God watched over me,

3 when His lamp shone above my head,

and I walked through darkness by His light! o

4 I would be as I was in the days of my youth

when God’s friendship p rested on my tent,

5 when the * Almighty was still with me

and my children were around me,

6 when my feet were bathed in cream

and the rock q poured out streams of oil for me!

7 When I went out to the city * gate r

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. s

10 The noblemen’s voices were hushed,

and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. t

11 When they heard me, they blessed me,

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

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

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

13 The dying man blessed me,

and I made the widow’s heart rejoice.

14 I clothed myself in righteousness, w

and it enveloped me;

my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.

15 I was eyes to the blind

and feet to the lame. x

16 I was a father to the needy,

and I examined the case of the stranger.

17 I shattered the fangs of the unjust y

and snatched the prey from his teeth.

18 So I thought: I will die in my own nest

and multiply my days as the sand. z

19 My roots will have access to water, a

and the dew will rest on my branches all night.

20 My strength will be refreshed within me,

and my bow will be renewed in my hand. b

21 Men listened to me with expectation,

waiting silently for my advice.

22 After a word from me they did not speak again;

my speech settled on them like dew. c

23 They waited for me as for the rain

and opened their mouths as for spring showers.

24 If I smiled at them, they couldn’t believe it;

they were thrilled at d the light of my countenance.

25 I directed their course and presided as chief.

I lived as a king among his troops,

like one who comforts those who mourn.