Job Chapter 29 (KJV)
Job 29
Nostalgia and RemembranceRighteous Living and JusticeHonor and RespectDivine FavorSuffering and Loss
Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, {continued: Heb. added to take up}
Oh that I were as {in} months past, as {in} the days {when} God preserved me;
When his candle shined upon my head, {and when} by his light I walked {through} darkness; {candle: or, lamp}
As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God {was} upon my tabernacle;
When the Almighty {was} yet with me, {when} my children {were} about me;
When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; {me: Heb. with me}
When I went out to the gate through the city, {when} I prepared my seat in the street!
The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, {and} stood up.
The princes refrained talking, and laid {their} hand on their mouth.
The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. {The nobles...: Heb. The voice of the nobles was hid}
When the ear heard {me}, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw {me}, it gave witness to me:
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and {him that had} none to help him.
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment {was} as a robe and a diadem.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet {was} I to the lame.
I {was} a father to the poor: and the cause {which} I knew not I searched out.
And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. {the jaws: Heb. the jawteeth, or, the grinders} {plucked: Heb. cast}
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply {my} days as the sand.
My root {was} spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. {spread...: Heb. opened}
My glory {was} fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. {fresh: Heb. new} {renewed: Heb. changed}
Unto me {men} gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide {as} for the latter rain.
{If} I laughed on them, they believed {it} not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one {that} comforteth the mourners.
Context & Meaning
In Job Chapter 29, Job nostalgically recalls his former prosperous and respected life before his suffering began. He remembers when God's favor was upon him, when he was respected by the community, and when he was able to help others, contrasting this with his current situation of suffering and disgrace.