Job 29:1-25 ICB

[1] Job continued to speak: [2] "How I wish for the months that have passed. I wish for the days when God watched over me. [3] I wish for the days when God's lamp shined on my head. And I wish for the time I walked through darkness by his light. [4] I wish for the days when I was at my strongest, when God's close friendship blessed my house. [5] That was when my children were all around me. And God All-Powerful was still with me. [6] Life was so good. It was as if my path were covered with cream. It was as if even the rocks poured out streams of olive oil for me. [7] I would go to the city gate and sit in the public square. [8] When the young men saw me, they would step out of my way. And the old men would stand up in respect for me. [9] The leading men stopped speaking and covered their mouths with their hands. [10] The voices of the important men were quiet. It was as if each man's tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. [11] Anyone who heard me said good things about me. And those who saw me praised me. [12] This was because I saved the poor who cried for help. And I saved the orphan who had no one to help him. [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 as if it were my robe and my turban. [15] I tried to be eyes for the blind. And I tried to be feet for those who were crippled. [16] I was like a father to needy people. And I took the side of strangers when they were in trouble. [17] I broke the fangs of evil people. And I snatched from their teeth the people they wanted to hurt. [18] "I thought, 'I will live for as many days as there are grains of sand. And I will die in my own house. [19] I will be like a tree whose roots reach down to the water. The dew will lie on the branches all night. [20] New honors will come to me continually. I will always have great strength.' [21] "People listened to me carefully. They waited quietly for my advice. [22] After I finished speaking, they spoke no more. My words fell very gently on their ears. [23] They waited for me as they would for rain. They drank in my words as if they were spring rain. [24] I smiled at them when they doubted. And my approval was important to them. [25] I chose the right way for them and was their leader. I lived like a king among his army. I was like a person who gives comfort to sad people.