Job 29:15-25

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.

20 New honors will come to me continually, and I will always have great strength.'

21 "People listened to me carefully and waited quietly for my advice.

22 After I finished speaking, they spoke no more. My words fell very gently on their ears.

23 They waited for me as they would for rain and drank in my words like spring rain.

24 I smiled at them when they doubted, and my approval was important to them.

25 I chose the way for them and was their leader. I lived like a king among his army, like a person who comforts sad people.

Job 29:15-25 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.