Job 29:4-14

4 as I was in my prime,[a] when the 1friendship of God was upon my tent,
5 when the Almighty was yet with me, when my 2children were all around me,
6 when my steps were 3washed with 4butter, and 5the rock poured out for me streams of 6oil!
7 When I went out to 7the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square,
8 the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose and stood;
9 the princes refrained from talking and 8laid their hand on their mouth;
10 the voice of the nobles was hushed, and their 9tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved,
12 because I 10delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him.
13 11The blessing of him who was 12about to perish came upon me, and I caused 13the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 I 14put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and 15a turban.

Job 29:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 29

In this chapter Job gives an account of his former and wishes it was with him now as then; and which he describes with respect to his own person, and the favours he personally enjoyed, whether temporal or spiritual, Job 29:1-4; with respect to his family and domestic affairs, Job 29:5,6; with regard to the esteem he had from men of every age and station, Job 29:7-11; the reasons of which were the mercy and compassion he showed to the poor, the fatherless, and the widow, and the justice he administered in the execution of his office as a magistrate, Job 29:12-17; in which honour and prosperity he expected to have lived and died, Job 29:18-20; and which he further describes by the respect he had among men, and the power and authority he exercised over them, Job 29:21-25.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Psalms 25:14; Proverbs 3:32; See Job 15:8
  • 2. Job 1:2; [Psalms 128:3]
  • 3. [Genesis 49:11]
  • 4. Job 20:17
  • 5. Deuteronomy 32:13, 14; Psalms 81:16
  • 6. [Deuteronomy 33:24]
  • 7. See Job 5:4
  • 8. See Job 21:5
  • 9. Psalms 22:15; Psalms 137:6; Lamentations 4:4; Ezekiel 3:26
  • 10. Psalms 72:12
  • 11. Job 31:20
  • 12. Proverbs 31:6; Isaiah 27:13
  • 13. [Ruth 2:20]
  • 14. Psalms 132:9; Isaiah 59:17; Isaiah 61:10; [Isaiah 11:5; Ephesians 6:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:8]
  • 15. Isaiah 62:3; Zechariah 3:5; [Job 19:9]

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.