Job 29

1 So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,

And Job again took up the word and said,

2 Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued 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 light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse,

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

4 As I was in the dayes of my youth: when Gods prouidence was vpon my tabernacle:

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

5 When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.

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

6 When I washed my pathes with butter, and when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle:

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, euen to the iudgement seat, and when I caused them to prepare my seate in the streete.

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

8 The yong men saw me, and hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp.

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

9 The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.

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

10 The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.

The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined 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 when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;

12 For I deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.

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 vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce.

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 put on iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne.

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 the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.

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

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

17 I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.

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

18 Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.

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

19 For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.

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

20 My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.

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

21 Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.

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

22 After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.

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

23 And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.

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

24 If I laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.

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

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