Job’s previous blessing

¹Job took up his subject again:

²Oh, that life was like it used to be,

³when his lamp shone on my head,

⁴when I was in my prime;

⁵when the Almighty was with me,

⁶when my steps were washed with cream

Previous honor

⁷When I went out to the city gate,

⁸the young saw me and drew back;

⁹princes restrained speech,

¹⁰the voices of officials were hushed,

Job’s implementation of justice

¹¹Indeed, the ear that heard blessed me;

¹²because I rescued the weak who cried out,

¹³The blessing of the perishing reached me;

I made the widow’s heart sing;

¹⁴I put on justice, and it clothed me,

righteousness as my coat and turban;

¹⁵I was eyes to the blind,

feet to the lame.

¹⁶I was a father to the needy;

the case I didn’t know, I examined.

¹⁷I shattered the fangs of the wicked,

rescued prey from their teeth.

Job’s expected blessing

¹⁸I thought, I’ll die in my nest,

¹⁹my roots opening to water,

²⁰my honor newly with me,

Previous honor

²¹People listened to me and waited,

were silent for my advice.

²²After my speech, they didn’t respond.

My words fell gently on them;

²⁴I smiled on them; they couldn’t believe it.[#29.24 Or laughed at]

They never showed me disfavor.

²⁵I decided their path, sat as chief.

I lived like a king with his troops,