Job’s Final Defense

29 Then[fn] Job again took up his discourse and said,

• 2 [fn] as in the months before, as in the days when God watched over me,
• 3 was over my head— by his light I walked through darkness—
• 4  when God’s confiding was over my[fn]
• 5 was still with me, my children were all around me,
• 6  and the rock poured out streams of oil for me.
• 7 the gate to the city, I secured my seat in the square.
• 8  and the aged rose up and stood.
• 9  and they laid their hand on their mouth.
• 10 The voices[fn] of nobles were hushed, and their tongue stuck to their palate.
• 11 the ear heard and commended me, and the eye saw and testified in support of me
• 12 the needy who cried for help, and I saved[fn] the orphan for whom there was no helper.
• 13 The blessing of the wretched came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
• 14  my justice was like a robe and a headband.
• 15  and I was feet to the lame.
• 16 was a father to the poor, and I investigated[fn] legal dispute.
• 17 the evil one’s jaw bones, and I made his prey drop from his teeth.
• 18  and like the phoenix I shall multiply my days.
• 19 were open to water, and dew spent the night on my branches;
• 20 was new with me, and[fn]
• 21  and they kept silent for my counsel.
• 22  and my word dropped down like dew upon them.
• 23 for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain.
• 24 when they had no confidence in anything, and they did not extinguish the light of my face.
• 25 as head, and I dwelled like a king among the troops,
• like one who comforts mourners.