Job 29

1 So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,

Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

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

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

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

When his candle shined upon 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 days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

5 When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.

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

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

When I washed my steps with butter, 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 out to the gate through 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 arose, and stood up.

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

The princes refrained 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 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.

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 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 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 judgment 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 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 which 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 brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil 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 was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

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

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

21 Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.

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

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

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 chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforts the mourners.