Job 29
1 So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,
And Job adds to lift up his allegory and says:
2 Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued me!
“Who makes me as [in] months past, As [in] the days of God’s preserving me?
3 When his light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse,
In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk [through] darkness.
4 As I was in the dayes of my youth: when Gods prouidence was vpon my tabernacle:
As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God on my tent.
5 When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.
When yet the Mighty One [is] with me. Around me—my young ones,
6 When I washed my pathes with butter, and when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle:
When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock [is] with 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 go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.
8 The yong men saw me, and hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp.
Youths have seen me, and they have been hidden, And the aged have risen—they stood up.
9 The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.
Princes have kept in words, And they place a hand on their mouth.
10 The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.
The voice of leaders has been hidden, And their tongue has cleaved to the palate.
11 And when the eare heard me, it blessed me: and when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me.
For the ear heard, and declares me blessed, And the eye has seen, and testifies [to] me.
12 For I deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.
For I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who has 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 the perishing comes on me, And I cause the heart of the widow to sing.
14 I put on iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne.
I have put on righteousness, and it clothes me, My justice as a robe and a crown.
15 I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.
I have been eyes to the blind, And I [am] 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 [am] a father to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.
17 I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.
And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.
18 Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.
And I say, I expire with my nest, And I multiply days as the sand.
19 For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.
My root is open to the waters, And dew lodges on my branch.
20 My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.
My glory [is] fresh with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.
21 Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.
They have listened to me, Indeed, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.
22 After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.
After my word they do not change, And my speech drops on them,
23 And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.
And they wait for me as [for] rain, And they have opened wide their mouth [As] for the spring rain.
24 If I laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
I laugh at them—they give no credence, And do not cause the light of my face to fall.
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 choose their way, and sit [as] head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When he comforts mourners.”
