Job 29:4-14

4 as I was in my autumn days, when the friendship of God was upon my tent;

5 when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

6 when my steps were washed with milk, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

7 When I went out to the 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 laid their hand on their mouth;

10 the voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved 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 delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless who had none to help him.

13 The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a 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.