< Job 29 >

1 So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,
Job resumed speaking and said,
2 Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued me!
“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
3 When his light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse,
when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
4 As I was in the dayes of my youth: when Gods prouidence was vpon my tabernacle:
Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on 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 my way was covered with 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, when I sat in my place in the city square,
8 The yong men saw me, and hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp.
the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.
9 The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.
The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
10 The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.
The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof 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 after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of me
12 For I deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.
because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, and the one who had no father when he had no one 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 who was about to perish came on me; I caused the widow's heart to 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; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.
I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
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 needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
17 I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.
18 Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.
Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
19 For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.
My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
20 My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.
The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'
21 Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.
To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
22 After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.
After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
23 And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.
They always waited for me as they waited for rain; they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, as they would do 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.
I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.
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 selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.

< Job 29 >