Job 29
1 Job went on speaking.
And Job continued to take up his parable, and said,
2 “I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
Who will give me back months like those which are past, days like those when God guarded me;
3 His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
When his lamp shone over my head, when by his light I could walk 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 abundance, when the confidence of God was upon my tent:
5 The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
When the Almighty was yet with me, when my servants stood round about me;
6 My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
When I bathed my steps in cream, and the rock poured out near me streamlets 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 close by the city, when in the open place I established my seat:
8 The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
Young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged rose up, and remained standing;
9 The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
Princes stopped in the midst of [their] words, and laid their hand on their mouth:
10 The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
The voice of nobles was arrested, and their tongue cleaved to their palate.
11 Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
For the ear that heard me called me happy; and the eye that saw me bore witness for 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 delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, yea, that had none to help him.
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 the heart of the widow I caused to sing for joy.
14 Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
I took righteousness as my garment, and it clothed me: as a robe and a mitre was justice unto me.
15 I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
Eyes was I to the blind; and feet to the lame was I.
16 I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
A father was I to the needy; and the cause of him I knew not I used to investigate.
17 I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
And I broke the cutting-teeth of the wrong-doer, and out of his teeth I cast down his prey.
18 I thought I would die at home, after many years.
And I said then, “In the midst of my nest shall I depart hence, and like the sand shall I have many days.
19 Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
My root will stand open for the water, and the dew will lodge on my boughs.
20 Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
My glory will ever be new with me, and my bow will acquire fresh strength in my hand.”
21 People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
Unto me men listened, and waited, and watched in silence for my counsel
22 Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
After my words they made no reply, and my speech dropped on them [like dew].
23 They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened wide their mouth as for the latter rain.
24 When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
I smiled on those that had lost their confidence; and the light of my countenance they never cast down.
25 I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
I chose their way for them, and I sat as chief, and dwelt as king in his army, as one that comforteth mourners.
