Job 29

1 So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,

And Job again took up his discourse, and said,

2 Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued me!

O that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me,

3 When his light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse,

when his lamp shone upon my head, and 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 ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was upon 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 sons were about me,

6 When I washed my pathes with butter, and when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle:

when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil to me,

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 to the city, when I prepared my seat in the street.

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 rose up and stood.

9 The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.

The rulers refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

10 The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.

The voice of the ranking men was hushed, and their tongue stuck 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.

For 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.

Because I delivered the poor who cried, also 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 who was ready to perish came upon me, and 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 as a robe and a diadem.

15 I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.

I was eyes to the blind, and I was 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 was a father to the needy, and I searched out the case of him whom I did not know.

17 I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.

And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of 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 shall die in my nest, and 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 out to the waters, and the dew lays all night upon my branch.

20 My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.

My glory is fresh in me, and my bow is renewed 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.

After my words they spoke not again, and my speech distilled upon them.

23 And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.

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 beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.

I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and they did not cast down the light of my countenance.

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 chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as a man who comforts the mourners.