Job 29
1 So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,
Job also added to this, using figures of speech, and he said:
2 Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued me!
Who will grant to me that I might be as I was in former months, according to the days when God kept watch over me?
3 When his light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse,
At that time, his lamp shined over 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:
I was then just as in the days of my youth, when God was privately in my tabernacle.
5 When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.
At that time, the Almighty was with me and my children surrounded me.
6 When I washed my pathes with butter, and when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle:
Then, I washed my feet with butter, and a boulder poured out rivers of oil 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 to the gate of the city, or to the main street, they prepared a chair for me.
8 The yong men saw me, and hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp.
The youths saw me and hid themselves, and the elders, rising up, remained standing.
9 The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.
The leaders stopped talking, and they placed a finder over their mouth.
10 The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.
The commanders subdued their voice, and their tongue adhered to their throat.
11 And when the eare heard me, it blessed me: and when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me.
The ear that heard me, blessed me, and the eye that saw me, gave testimony for me.
12 For I deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.
This was because I had freed the poor, who cried out, and the orphan, 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 blessing of him who would have been destroyed came upon me, and I consoled the heart of the widow.
14 I put on iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne.
I put on justice, and I clothed myself with my judgment, like a robe and a diadem.
15 I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.
I was an eye for the blind and a foot for the lame.
16 I was a father vnto the poore, and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out diligently.
I was the father of the poor; and if I lacked knowledge about any case, I investigated very diligently.
17 I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.
I crushed the jaws of the impious, and I took away prey from his teeth.
18 Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.
And I said, “I will die in my little nest, and like a palm tree, I will multiply my days.
19 For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.
My root has been spread beside the waters, and the dew will remain with my harvest.
20 My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.
My glory will always be restored, and my bow will be restored to my hand.”
21 Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.
Those who heard me, expected vindication, and they listened closely in silence to my counsel.
22 After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.
To my words, they dared to add nothing, and my eloquence poured over them.
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 they opened their mouth as for belated rains.
24 If I laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
If I had ever laughed at them, they would not have believed it, and the light of my face was not cast down towards the ground.
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.
If I wished to go to them, I sat down first, and, though I sat like a king surrounded by an army, yet I was a comforter to those who mourned.
