Job 29

Job Speaks of His Former Blessings

1Job continued speaking:

2“I long for the years gone by

when God took care of me,

3when he lit up the way before me

and I walked safely through the darkness.

4When I was in my prime,

God’s friendship was felt in my home.

5The Almighty was still with me,

and my children were around me.

6My steps were awash in cream,

and the rocks gushed olive oil for me.

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

and took my place among the honored leaders.

8The young stepped aside when they saw me,

and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.

9The princes stood in silence

and put their hands over their mouths.

10The 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.

12For I assisted the poor in their need

and the orphans who required help.

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

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

14Everything I did was honest.

Righteousness covered me like a robe,

and I wore justice like a turban.

15I served as eyes for the blind

and feet for the lame.

16I was a father to the poor

and assisted strangers who needed help.

17I broke the jaws of godless oppressors

and plucked their victims from their teeth.

18“I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family

after a long, good life.*29:18 Hebrew after I have counted my days like sand.

19For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water,

whose branches are refreshed with the dew.

20New honors are constantly bestowed on me,

and my strength is continually renewed.’

21“Everyone listened to my advice.

They were silent as they waited for me to speak.

22And after I spoke, they had nothing to add,

for my counsel satisfied them.

23They longed for me to speak as people long for rain.

They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.

24When they were discouraged, I smiled at them.

My look of approval was precious to them.

25Like a chief, I told them what to do.

I lived like a king among his troops

and comforted those who mourned.

Job 30

Job Speaks of His Anguish

1“But now I am mocked by people younger than I,

by young men whose fathers are not worthy to run with my sheepdogs.

2A lot of good they are to me—

those worn-out wretches!

3They are gaunt from poverty and hunger.

They claw the dry ground in desolate wastelands.

4They pluck wild greens from among the bushes

and eat from the roots of broom trees.

5They are driven from human society,

and people shout at them as if they were thieves.

6So now they live in frightening ravines,

in caves and among the rocks.

7They sound like animals howling among the bushes,

huddled together beneath the nettles.

8They are nameless fools,

outcasts from society.

9“And now they mock me with vulgar songs!

They taunt me!

10They despise me and won’t come near me,

except to spit in my face.

11For God has cut my bowstring.

He has humbled me,

so they have thrown off all restraint.

12These outcasts oppose me to my face.

They send me sprawling

and lay traps in my path.

13They block my road

and do everything they can to destroy me.

They know I have no one to help me.

14They come at me from all directions.

They jump on me when I am down.

15I live in terror now.

My honor has blown away in the wind,

and my prosperity has vanished like a cloud.

16“And now my life seeps away.

Depression haunts my days.

17At night my bones are filled with pain,

which gnaws at me relentlessly.

18With a strong hand, God grabs my shirt.*30:18 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads hand, my garment is disfigured.

He grips me by the collar of my coat.

19He has thrown me into the mud.

I’m nothing more than dust and ashes.

20“I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer.

I stand before you, but you don’t even look.

21You have become cruel toward me.

You use your power to persecute me.

22You throw me into the whirlwind

and destroy me in the storm.

23And I know you are sending me to my death—

the destination of all who live.

24“Surely no one would turn against the needy

when they cry for help in their trouble.

25Did I not weep for those in trouble?

Was I not deeply grieved for the needy?

26So I looked for good, but evil came instead.

I waited for the light, but darkness fell.

27My heart is troubled and restless.

Days of suffering torment me.

28I walk in gloom, without sunlight.

I stand in the public square and cry for help.

29Instead, I am considered a brother to jackals

and a companion to owls.

30My skin has turned dark,

and my bones burn with fever.

31My harp plays sad music,

and my flute accompanies those who weep.

Job 31

Job’s Final Protest of Innocence

1“I made a covenant with my eyes

not to look with lust at a young woman.

2For what has God above chosen for us?

What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high?

3Isn’t it calamity for the wicked

and misfortune for those who do evil?

4Doesn’t he see everything I do

and every step I take?

5“Have I lied to anyone

or deceived anyone?

6Let God weigh me on the scales of justice,

for he knows my integrity.

7If I have strayed from his pathway,

or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen,

or if I am guilty of any other sin,

8then let someone else eat the crops I have planted.

Let all that I have planted be uprooted.

9“If my heart has been seduced by a woman,

or if I have lusted for my neighbor’s wife,

10then let my wife serve*31:10 Hebrew grind for. another man;

let other men sleep with her.

11For lust is a shameful sin,

a crime that should be punished.

12It is a fire that burns all the way to hell.*31:12 Hebrew to Abaddon.

It would wipe out everything I own.

13“If I have been unfair to my male or female servants

when they brought their complaints to me,

14how could I face God?

What could I say when he questioned me?

15For God created both me and my servants.

He created us both in the womb.

16“Have I refused to help the poor,

or crushed the hopes of widows?

17Have I been stingy with my food

and refused to share it with orphans?

18No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father,

and all my life I have cared for widows.

19Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes

and the needy with nothing to wear,

20did they not praise me

for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?

21“If I raised my hand against an orphan,

knowing the judges would take my side,

22then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place!

Let my arm be torn from its socket!

23That would be better than facing God’s judgment.

For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?

24“Have I put my trust in money

or felt secure because of my gold?

25Have I gloated about my wealth

and all that I own?

26“Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies,

or the moon walking down its silver pathway,

27and been secretly enticed in my heart

to throw kisses at them in worship?

28If so, I should be punished by the judges,

for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.

29“Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies,

or become excited when harm came their way?

30No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone

or by asking for revenge.

31“My servants have never said,

‘He let others go hungry.’

32I have never turned away a stranger

but have opened my doors to everyone.

33“Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do,

concealing my guilt in my heart?

34Have I feared the crowd

or the contempt of the masses,

so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors?

35“If only someone would listen to me!

Look, I will sign my name to my defense.

Let the Almighty answer me.

Let my accuser write out the charges against me.

36I would face the accusation proudly.

I would wear it like a crown.

37For I would tell him exactly what I have done.

I would come before him like a prince.

38“If my land accuses me

and all its furrows cry out together,

39or if I have stolen its crops

or murdered its owners,

40then let thistles grow on that land instead of wheat,

and weeds instead of barley.”

Job’s words are ended.