Job 29:1
And Job again took up his discourse, and said,
Job 29:2
O that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me,
Job 29:3
when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,
Job 29:4
as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was upon my tent,
Job 29:5
when the Almighty was yet with me, and my sons were about me,
Job 29:6
when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil to me,
Job 29:7
when I went forth to the gate to the city, when I prepared my seat in the street.
Job 29:8
The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged rose up and stood.
Job 29:9
The rulers refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
Job 29:10
The voice of the ranking men was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
Job 29:11
For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me.
Job 29:12
Because I delivered the poor who cried, also the fatherless who had none to help him.
Job 29:13
The blessing of him who was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
Job 29:14
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
Job 29:15
I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame.
Job 29:16
I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the case of him whom I did not know.
Job 29:17
And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
Job 29:18
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
Job 29:19
My root is spread out to the waters, and the dew lays all night upon my branch.
Job 29:20
My glory is fresh in me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.
Job 29:21
To me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
Job 29:22
After my words they spoke not again, and my speech distilled upon them.
Job 29:23
And they waited for me as for the rain. And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Job 29:24
I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and they did not cast down the light of my countenance.
Job 29:25
I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as a man who comforts the mourners.