Job 29
Job 29 is part of “Third Cycle of Dialogue” (22–31) in the outline of Job.
Job 29 summary
After that excellent discourse concerning wisdom in the foregoing chapter Job sat down and paused awhile, not because he had talked himself out of breath, but because he would not, without the leave of the company, engross the talk to himself, but would give room for his friends, if they pleased, to make their remarks on what he had said; but they had nothing to say, and therefore, after he had recollected himself a little, he went on with his discourse concerning his own affairs, as recorded in this and the two following chapters, in which, I. He describes the height of the prosperity from which he had fallen. And, II. The depth of the…
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After that excellent discourse concerning wisdom in the foregoing chapter Job sat down and paused awhile, not because he had talked himself out of breath, but because he would not, without the leave of the company, engross the talk to himself, but would give room for his friends, if they pleased, to make their remarks on what he had said; but they had nothing to say, and therefore, after he had recollected himself a little, he went on with his discourse concerning his own affairs, as recorded in this and the two following chapters, in which, I. He describes the height of the prosperity from which he had fallen. And, II. The depth of the adversity into which he had fallen; and this he does to move the pity of his friends, and to justify, or at least excuse, his own complaints. But then, III. To obviate his friends' censures of him, he makes a very ample and particular protestation of his own integrity notwithstanding. In this chapter he looks back to the days of his prosperity, and shows, 1. What comfort and satisfaction he had in his house and family (Job 29:1-6). 2. What a great deal of honour and power he had in his country, and what respect was paid him by all sorts of people (Job 29:7-10). 3. What abundance of good he did in his place, as a magistrate (Job 29:11-17). 4. What a just prospect he had of the continuance of his comfort at home (Job 29:18-20) and of his interest abroad (Job 29:21-25). All this he enlarges upon, to aggravate his present calamities; like Naomi, "I went out full," but am brought "home again empty."
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Job 29 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
Job's Final Defense: My Life in the Past
1And Job again took up his parable, and said, 2Oh that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me; 3When his lamp shined upon my head, And by his light I walked through darkness; 4As I was in the ripeness of my days, When the friendship of God was upon my tent; 5When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were about me; 6When my steps were washed with butter, And the rock poured me out streams of oil! 7When I went forth to the gate unto the city, When I prepared my seat in the street, 8The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged rose up and stood; 9The princes refrained from talking, And laid their hand on their mouth; 10The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 11For when the ear heard [me], then it blessed me; And when the eye saw [me], it gave witness unto me: 12Because I delivered the poor that cried, The fatherless also, that had none to help him. 13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. 14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: My justice was as a robe and a diadem. 15I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame. 16I was a father to the needy: And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out. 17And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth. 18Then I said, I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand: 19My root is spread out to the waters, And the dew lieth all night upon my branch: 20My glory is fresh in me, And my bow is renewed in my hand. 21Unto me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel. 22After my words they spake not again; And my speech distilled upon them. 23And they waited for me as for the rain; And they opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain. 24I smiled on them, when they had no confidence; And the light of my countenance they cast not down. 25I chose out their way, and sat [as] chief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners.