29:1 And Job continued speaking, and said, |
29:2 "Oh, that I were as in months past, as in the days when God watched over me; |
29:3 When His lamp shined upon my head; and when I walked through darkness by His light; |
29:4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; |
29:5 When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me; |
29:6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock pressed out rivers of oil for me; |
29:7 When I went out to the gate of the city; when I prepared my seat in the square! |
29:8 The young men saw me and hid themselves; and the aged arose and stood up. |
29:9 The rulers refrained from talking, and laid their hands on their mouths. |
29:10 The noble's voice was subdued, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouth. |
29:11 When the ear heard me then it blessed me. And when the eye saw me it gave witness to me. |
29:12 For I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help. |
29:13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. |
29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a diadem. |
29:15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. |
29:16 I was a father to the poor; and the cause which I did not know, I searched out. |
29:17 I broke the fangs of the wicked, and plucked the prey out of his teeth. |
29:18 Then I said, 'I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days like the sand.' |
29:19 My root was spread out to the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. |
29:20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. |
29:21 They listened to me, and waited, and kept silent at my counsel. |
29:22 After my words they did not speak again; and my speech dropped on them. |
29:23 And they waited for me like the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. |
29:24 I smiled on them when they did not believe; and the light of my countenance they did not cast down. |
29:25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief; and I lived like a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners." |