Job 29
1 Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:
Job went on speaking.
2 Who will grant me, that I might be according to the months past, according to the days in which God kept me?
“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
3 When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in darkness?
His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when God was secretly in my tabernacle?
When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
5 When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me?
The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
6 When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil?
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
7 When I went out to the gate of the city, and in the street they prepared me a chair?
I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the old men rose up and stood.
The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
9 The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth.
The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.
The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
11 The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave witness to me:
Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
12 Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the fatherless that had no helper.
because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I comforted the heart of the widow.
Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
14 I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment, as with a robe and a diadem.
Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
15 I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame.
I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently.
I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
17 I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey.
I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm tree shall multiply my days.
I thought I would die at home, after many years.
19 My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.
Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
20 My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.
Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
21 They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive held their peace at my counsel.
People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
22 To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them.
Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
23 They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for a latter shower.
They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
24 If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the light of my countenance fell not on earth.
When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
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 decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
