Job 29

1And Job again took up his discourse and said:

2Oh, that I were as in months gone by, as in the days when God watched over me,

3when his lamp shone above my head, and by his light I walked through darkness.

4as I was in the days of my prime, when God's intimate counsel was over my tent,

5when the Almighty was still with me, and my young men were around me,

6when my steps were washed with curds, and the rock beside me poured out streams of oil.

7When I went out to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the square,

8The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged rose and stood.

9Princes held back their words, and put their hand over their mouth.

10The voice of nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.

11For when an ear heard, it called me blessed, and when an eye saw, it testified about me.

12For I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had no helper.

13The blessing of the one who was perishing came upon me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.

15I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.

16I was a father to the poor, and I investigated a case unfamiliar to me.

17I broke the fangs of the unrighteous and snatched the prey from his teeth.

18Then I said, ‘I will die in my nest, and I will multiply my days like the sand.’

19My roots were spread out to the waters, and dew stayed overnight on my branches.

20My glory was ever fresh with me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

21They listened to me and waited, and they were silent for my counsel.

22After I spoke, they did not speak again, and my word dripped upon them.

23They waited for me as for rain, and opened their mouths wide for the spring rain.

24I smiled at them; they did not believe it, and they did not diminish the light of my face.

25I chose their way and sat at the head; I dwelt like a king among the troops, like one who comforts mourners.