Job 29

29:1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

29:2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when Eloah preserved me;

29:3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

29:4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of Eloah was upon my tabernacle;

29:5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

29:6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

29:7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

29:8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

29:9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

29:10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

29:11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

29:12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

29:13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

29:15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

29:16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

29:17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

29:18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

29:19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

29:20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

29:21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.

29:22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

29:23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

29:24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

29:25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.