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