< Job 29

[1] Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

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

[3] When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

[4] As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

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

[6] When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

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

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

[9] The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

[10] The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

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

[12] 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 upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

[14] I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

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

[16] I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

[17] And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

[18] Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

[19] My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

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

[21] Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.

[22] After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

[23] 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 believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

[25] I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.