Job 29:25

I chose ¹  the way for them ²  and sat as their chief; ³  I lived like a king among his troops; I was like one who comforts mourners. ⁴ 

I chose the way for them and sat as their chief; I dwelt as a king among his troops; I was like one who comforts mourners.

"I chose a way for them and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king among the troops, As one who comforted the mourners.

I told them what they should do and presided over them as their chief. I lived as a king among his troops and as one who comforts those who mourn.

I was their leader, establishing the mood and setting the pace by which they lived. Where I led, they followed.

I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. …

I chose their way, and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.

I chose the way for them, and sat as chief; So I dwelt as a king in the army, As one who comforts mourners.

I chose ¹  the way for them ²  and sat as their chief; ³  I lived like a king among his troops; I was like one who comforts mourners. ⁴ 

¹ tn All of these imperfects describe what Job used to do, and so they all fit the category of customary imperfect.

² tn Heb “their way.”

³ tn The text simply has “and I sat [as their] head.” The adverbial accusative explains his role, especially under the image of being seated. He directed the deliberations as a king directs an army.

⁴ tc Most commentators think this last phrase is odd here, and so they either delete it altogether, or emend it to fit the idea of the verse. Ewald, however, thought it appropriate as a transition to the next section, reminding his friends that unlike him, they were miserable comforters. Herz made the few changes in the text to get the reading “where I led them, they were willing to go” (ZAW 20 [1900]: 163). The two key words in the MT are אֲבֵלִים יְנַחֵם (’avelim yÿnakhem, “he [one who] comforts mourners”). Following Herz, E. Dhorme (Job, 422) has these changed to אוֹבִילֵם יִנַּחוּ (’ovilem yinnakhu). R. Gordis has “like one leading a camel train” (Job, 324). But Kissane also retains the line as a summary of the chapter, noting its presence in the versions.