Job 29

1 Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:

And Job again took up the word and said,

2 Who will grant me, that I might be according to the months past, according to the days in which God kept me?

If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!

3 When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in darkness?

When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.

4 As I was in the days of my youth, when God was secretly in my tabernacle?

As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;

5 When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me?

While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;

6 When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil?

When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.

7 When I went out to the gate of the city, and in the street they prepared me a chair?

When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,

8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the old men rose up and stood.

The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;

9 The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth.

The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;

10 The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.

The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.

11 The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave witness to me:

For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;

12 Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the fatherless that had no helper.

For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.

13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I comforted the heart of the widow.

The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.

14 I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment, as with a robe and a diadem.

I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.

15 I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.

16 I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently.

I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.

17 I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey.

By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.

18 And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm tree shall multiply my days.

Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;

19 My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.

My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,

20 My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.

My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.

21 They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive held their peace at my counsel.

Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.

22 To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them.

After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;

23 They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for a latter shower.

They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.

24 If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the light of my countenance fell not on earth.

I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.

25 If I had a mind to go to them, I sat first, and when I sat as a king, with his army standing about him, yet I was a comforter of them that mourned.

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