Job 29
1 So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,
And Job continued his discourse:
2 Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued me!
“How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,
3 When his light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse,
when His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,
4 As I was in the dayes of my youth: when Gods prouidence was vpon my tabernacle:
when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent,
5 When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.
when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,
6 When I washed my pathes with butter, and when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle:
when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 When I went out to the gate, euen to the iudgement seat, and when I caused them to prepare my seate in the streete.
When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,
8 The yong men saw me, and hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp.
the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.
9 The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.
The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.
The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11 And when the eare heard me, it blessed me: and when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me.
For those who heard me called me blessed, and those who saw me commended me,
12 For I deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.
because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish, came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce.
The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 I put on iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.
15 I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.
I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame.
16 I was a father vnto the poore, and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out diligently.
I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.
17 I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.
I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.
18 Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.
So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.
19 For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.
My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.
20 My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.
My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.
Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.
22 After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.
After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.
23 And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.
They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
24 If I laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.
25 I appoynted out their way, and did sit as chiefe, and dwelt as a King in the army, and like him that comforteth the mourners.
I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.
