Job 29
1 And Job again took up his parable, and said:
Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2 Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
O that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
3 When His lamp shined above my head, and by His light I walked through darkness;
When his lamp shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the converse of God was upon my tent;
As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tent;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were about me;
When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
6 When my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7 When I went forth to the gate unto the city, when I prepared my seat in the broad place,
When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged rose up and stood;
The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;
The princes stopped talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me;
When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless also, that had none to help him.
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; my justice was as a robe and a diadem.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy; and the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.
I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17 And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
18 Then I said: 'I shall die with my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the phoenix;
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew shall lie all night upon my branch;
My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20 My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow shall be renewed in my hand.'
My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
To me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22 After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
After my words they spoke not again; and my speech fell upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
If I mocked at them, they had no confidence; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
