Job 29

After another pause, Job proceeded in his spirited vindication of himself, saying, 2. O that God would re-establish me in my former prosperity of person, family, and estate, as in the days wherein he watched over and protected me!

Job 29:3

When his blessing and favour directed and prospered me in all my affairs, and made me to pass untouched through all the troubles and inconveniences of life, and the various dangers, difficulties, and calamities, which befel others around me

Job 29:4

When I was in the days of my ripe prosperity, and had the authority, the oracles, and secrets, of God, with me

Job 29:5

When God Almighty continued so kind to and familiar with me, and my children and servants were round about me

Job 29:6

When, whithersoever I turned myself, I abounded in all sorts of the choicest blessings

Job 29:7

When I took my seat in the places of judicature and concourse, 8. The young men stood in the most profound awe of me, and the aged stood up in reverence, and ceased to speak. 9, 10. Nay, from regard to my superior authority, princes, the most noble not excepted, refrained from speaking

Job 29:11

They who heard me judge in a cause pronounced me highly favoured of God, and richly endowed with his gifts and grace, and prayed for his distinguished blessings upon me: and they who observed my just procedure, attested my pious, just, and blameless, conversation

Job 29:12

Because I never failed to redress the grievances of poor, fatherless, and destitute persons, who complained to me

Job 29:13

Many blessed me, as the instrument of delivering them when they were upon the point of being ruined by false accusations; and I caused the widow’s heart to sing with 6 L joy for her great and unexpected deliverances, and the favours which I granted her

Job 29:14

In all my sentences I fixed my attention on what was just and upright; and the decisions I gave were an honour to me

Job 29:15

I instructed, directed, and assisted, such as could not manage their own affairs; and was ever ready to help and comfort such as could not help themselves

Job 29:16

I was a kind teacher, provider, and protector, to the poor; and carefully inquired into their circumstances, as well as into their difficult and obscure pleas

Job 29:17

By proper punishments and restraints I rendered the wicked incapable of oppressing, and forced them to restore that which they had violently extorted

Job 29:18

Then I vainly imagined that, after a long life of amazing prosperity, I should die quietly in my own house, among my children and friends

Job 29:19

That my remarkable happiness should certainly continue, as I had every mean of preserving and securing it

Job 29:20

That the honour and respect which I had from others, and my abilities and powers, should still continue with me; 21, 22. That men should still regard my advices and decisions with the profoundest respect

Job 29:23

That they should always be exceedingly desirous to hear my opinion and judgment on a point

Job 29:24

That, though I carried myself familiarly towards them, they should still stand in awe, and carefully avoid every thing which might deprive them of my favour

Job 29:25

And that I should still be regarded as their principal director in their conduct, and affectionate comforter under their troubles. N.B. Ver. 20—25 may also be read in the past time, as in our translation

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXIX.—What holiness, comfort, and honour, God bestows upon his favourites when it is for his glory and their good! But those who prosper in youth know little what dark and cloudy days may be in reserve for them. It is pleasant, however, to commemorate our early intimacies with God, and his kind protection of us, or communications of light, life, and comfort to our heart: and, if they be lost, God allows us to pray for the restoration of our mercies, spiritual and temporal. Faith in God, and intimate fellowship with him, remarkably contribute to render men truly honourable and useful in this world. And it is comely in a state when judges are grave, solemn, and impartial, helpers to the poor, and terrors to the oppressors; and when people are modest, submissive, and grateful: but, when men have great wealth at home, and are regarded as the oracle, the darling sovereign, and comforter, of their country, how apt are they to suppose their felicity secured, and to forget the evil day!