Job 29:8-18

8 young men saw me and kept out of sight. Old men stood up straight out of respect [for me].

9 Princes held back [their] words and put their hands over their mouths.

10 The voices of nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

11 "[Any] ears that heard me blessed me. [Any] eyes that saw me spoke well of me,

12 because I rescued the poor who called [for help] and the orphans who had no one to help them.

13 I received a blessing from the dying. I made the widow's heart sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it was my clothing. I practiced justice, and it was my robe and my turban.

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

16 I was father to the needy. I carefully investigated cases brought by strangers.

17 I broke the teeth of the wicked person and made him drop the prey out of his mouth.

18 "I thought, 'I may die in my own house, but I will make my days as numerous as the sand.

Job 29:8-18 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.