Get the free app for more features and content.
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Job Finishes His Defense

1Job again took up his discourse and said:

2“O that I were as in the months of old,

as in the days when God watched over me;

3when his lamp shone over my head,

and by his light I walked through darkness;

4when I was in my prime,

when the friendship of God was upon my tent;

5when the Almighty was still with me,

when my children were around me;

6when my steps were washed with milk,

and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

7When I went out to the gate of the city,

when I took my seat in the square,

8the young men saw me and withdrew,

and the aged rose up and stood;

9the nobles refrained from talking,

and laid their hands on their mouths;

10the voices of princes were hushed,

and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11When the ear heard, it commended me,

and when the eye saw, it approved;

12because I delivered the poor who cried,

and the orphan who had no helper.

13The blessing of the wretched came upon me,

and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

my justice was like a robe and a turban.

15I was eyes to the blind,

and feet to the lame.

16I was a father to the needy,

and I championed the cause of the stranger.

17I broke the fangs of the unrighteous,

and made them drop their prey from their teeth.

18Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest,

and I shall multiply my days like the phoenix;

19my roots spread out to the waters,

with the dew all night on my branches;

20my glory was fresh with me,

and my bow ever new in my hand.’

21“They listened to me, and waited,

and kept silence for my counsel.

22After I spoke they did not speak again,

and my word dropped upon them like dew.

23They waited for me as for the rain;

they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

24I smiled on them when they had no confidence;

and the light of my countenance they did not extinguish.

25I chose their way, and sat as chief,

and I lived like a king among his troops,

like one who comforts mourners.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Click here to learn more.

Featured Resources

Justice • This Is the Bible's Radical View

Justice • This Is the Bible's Radical View

"Justice" is a felt need in our world today and a controversial topic. But wh...

BibleProject

Introduction to Job

Introduction to Job

Dr. Todd Johnson introduces Job by asking the questions of how we speak about...

Fuller Studio

The Lord Gives and Takes Away: Job 19:11–42:12

The Lord Gives and Takes Away: Job 19:11–42:12

Subscribe by email or podcast: https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/the-lord-giv...

Desiring God

The Book of Job's Wisdom on How God Runs the World

The Book of Job's Wisdom on How God Runs the World

How do you trust God even when life isn’t fair and you suffer for no good rea...

BibleProject

Was Job a Man or a Myth?

Was Job a Man or a Myth?

Episode 1353. Read or subscribe: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/was-...

Desiring God

Book of Job Summary: A Complete Animated Overview

Book of Job Summary: A Complete Animated Overview

Watch our overview video on the book of Job, which breaks down the literary d...

BibleProject

Old Testament Summary: A Complete Animated Overview

Old Testament Summary: A Complete Animated Over...

Watch our overview video on the Old Testament, also known as the Hebrew Bible...

BibleProject

Explore Job 29