Job 29:3-13

3 When his candle shined upon my head, [and when] by his light I walked [through] darkness;

4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God [was] upon my tabernacle;

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

6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

7 When I went out to the gate through the city, [when] I prepared my seat in the street!

8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, [and] stood up.

9 The princes refrained talking, and laid [their] hand on their mouth.

10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me; and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me:

12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and [him that had] none to help him.

13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

Job 29:3-13 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.