Job 29
1 So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,
Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
2 Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued me!
O that I were as in months past, In the days when God was my guardian;
3 When his light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse,
When his lamp shined over my head, And when by his light I walked through darkness!
4 As I was in the dayes of my youth: when Gods prouidence was vpon my tabernacle:
As I was in the autumn of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent;
5 When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.
When the Almighty was yet 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 I bathed my steps in milk, And the rock poured me out rivers 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 forth to the gate by the city, And took my seat in the market-place,
8 The yong men saw me, and hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp.
The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged arose and stood.
9 The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.
The princes refrained from speaking, And laid their hand upon their mouth.
10 The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.
The nobles held their peace, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 And when the eare heard me, it blessed me: and when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me.
When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; And when the eye saw me, it 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 delivered the poor, when they cried; And the fatherless, who had none to help him.
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 that was ready to perish came upon me, And I caused the heart of the widow to sing for joy.
14 I put on iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne.
I clothed myself with righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; And justice was my robe and diadem.
15 I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.
I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I 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 poor, And the cause of him I knew not I searched out;
17 I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.
And I broke the teeth of the wicked, And plucked the spoil from his jaws.
18 Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.
Then said I, “I shall die in my nest; I shall 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 root is spread abroad to the waters, And the dew abideth on my branches.
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 gathereth strength in my hand.”
21 Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.
To me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.
22 After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.
To my words they made no reply, When my speech dropped down upon them.
23 And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.
Yea, they waited for me as for the rain; They opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain.
24 If I laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
If I smiled upon them, they believed it not; Nor did they cause the light of my countenance 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.
When I came among them, I sat as chief; I dwelt as a king in the midst of an army, As a comforter among mourners.
