Job 29
1Job resumed speaking and said, 1
2“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months 1 when God cared for me, 1
3when his lamp shined on my head, 1 and when I walked through darkness by his light. 1
4Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days 1 when the friendship of God was on my tent, 1
5when the Almighty was yet with me, 1 and my children were around me, 1
6when my way was covered with cream, 1 and the rock poured out for me streams of oil! 1
7When I went out to the city gate, 1 when I sat in my place in the city square, 1
8the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, 1 and the aged people rose and stood for me. 1
9The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; 1 they would lay their hand on their mouths. 1
10The voices of the noblemen were hushed, 1 and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths. 1
11For after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; 1 after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of me 1
12because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, 1 and the one who had no father when he had no one to help him. 1
13The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; 1 I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 1
14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; 1 my justice was like a robe and a turban. 1
15I was eyes to blind people; 1 I was feet to lame people. 1
16I was a father to needy people; 1 I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know. 1
17I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; 1 I plucked the victim out from between his teeth. 1
18Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; 1 I will multiply my days like the grains of sand. 1
19My roots are spread out to the waters, 1 and dew lies all night on my branches. 1
20The honor in me is always fresh, 1 and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.' 1
21To me men listened; they waited for me; 1 they stayed silent to hear my advice. 1
22After my words were done, they did not speak again; 1 my speech dropped like water on them. 1
23They always waited for me as they waited for rain; 1 they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, 1 as they would do for the latter rain. 1
24I smiled on them when they did not expect it; 1 they did not reject the light of my face. 1
25I selected their way and sat as their chief; 1 I lived like a king in his army, 1 like one who comforts mourners.