Job 29

1 Job went on speaking.

Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

2 “I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

3 His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.

When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

4 When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.

As I was in the days of my youth, when the friendship and counsel of God was upon my tabernacle;

5 The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.

When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

6 My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.

When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

7 I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.

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 moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.

The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

9 The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.

The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

10 The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.

The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,

When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

12 because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.

Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

13 Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow 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 Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

15 I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

16 I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.

I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

17 I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.

And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

18 I thought I would die at home, after many years.

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

19 Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.

My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

20 Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.

My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

21 People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.

Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.

22 Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.

After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

23 They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.

And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

24 When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.

If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

25 I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.

I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king among his troops, as one that comforteth the mourners.