Job 29:9-19

9 The leading men stopped speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.

10 The voices of the important men were quiet, as if their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11 Anyone who heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me praised me,

12 because I saved the poor who called out and the orphan who had no one to help.

13 The dying person blessed me, and I made the widow's heart sing.

14 I put on right living as if it were clothing; I wore fairness like a robe and a turban.

15 I was eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.

16 I was like a father to needy people, and I took the side of strangers who were in trouble.

17 I broke the fangs of evil people and snatched the captives from their teeth.

18 "I thought, 'I will live for as many days as there are grains of sand, and I will die in my own house.

19 My roots will reach down to the water. The dew will lie on the branches all night.

Job 29:9-19 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.