Job 29

1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,WEBJob again took up his parable, and said,

2Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;WEB“Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;

3When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;WEBwhen his lamp shone on my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,

4As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;WEBas I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was in my tent,

5When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;WEBwhen the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,

6When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;WEBwhen my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,

7When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!WEBwhen I went out to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.

8The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.WEBThe young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.

9The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.WEBThe princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

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

11When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:WEBFor when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it commended me,

12Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.WEBbecause I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had no one to help him,

13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.WEBthe blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.WEBI put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.

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

16I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.WEBI was a father to the needy. I researched the cause of him whom I didn’t know.

17And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.WEBI broke the jaws of the unrighteous and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

18Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.WEBThen I said, ‘I will die in my own house, I will count my days as the sand.

19My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.WEBMy root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.

20My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.WEBMy glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.’

21Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.WEB“Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.

22After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.WEBAfter my words they didn’t speak again. My speech fell on them.

23And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.WEBThey waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.

24If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.WEBI smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.

25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.WEBI chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.