Chapter 29
1 Job again took up his parable , and said,
2 " Oh that I were as in the months of old , as in the days when God watched over me ;
3 when his lamp shone on my head , and by his light I walked through darkness ,
4 as I was in my prime , when the friendship of God was in my tent,
5 when the Almighty was yet with me , and my children were around me ,
6 when my steps were washed with butter , and the rock poured out streams of oil for me ,
7 when I went out to the city gate , when I prepared my seat in the street .
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves . The aged rose up and stood .
9 The princes refrained from talking , and laid their hand on their mouth .
10 The voice of the nobles was hushed , and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth .
11 For when the ear heard me , then it blessed me , and when the eye saw me , it commended me ,
12 because I delivered the poor who cried , and the fatherless also , who had no one to help him ,
13 the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me , and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy .
14 I put on righteousness , and it clothed me . My justice was as a robe and a diadem .
15 I was eyes to the blind , and feet to the lame .
16 I was a father to the needy. I researched the cause of him whom I didn’t know .
17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous and plucked the prey out of his teeth .
18 Then I said, ‘ I will die in my own house, I will count my days as the sand .
19 My root is spread out to the waters . The dew lies all night on my branch .
20 My glory is fresh in me . My bow is renewed in my hand .’
21 "Men listened to me , waited , and kept silence for my counsel .
22 After my words they didn’t speak again . My speech fell on them .
23 They waited for me as for the rain . Their mouths drank as with the spring rain .
24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face .
25 I chose out their way , and sat as chief . I lived as a king in the army , as one who comforts the mourners.