Job 29

1And Job again took up his parable, and said,

1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

1And Job again took up the word and said,

2Oh that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me;

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

2If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!

3When his lamp shined upon my head, And by his light I walked through darkness;

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

3When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.

4As I was in the ripeness of my days, When the friendship of God was upon my tent;

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

4As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;

5When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were about me;

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

5While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;

6When my steps were washed with butter, And the rock poured me out streams of oil!

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

6When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.

7When I went forth to the gate unto the city, When I prepared my seat in the street,

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

7When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,

8The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged rose up and stood;

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

8The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;

9The princes refrained from talking, And laid their hand on their mouth;

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

9The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;

10The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

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

10The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.

11For when the ear heardme, then it blessed me; And when the eye sawme, it gave witness unto me:

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

11For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;

12Because I delivered the poor that cried, The fatherless also, that had none to help him.

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

12For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.

13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

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

13The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.

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

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

14I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.

15I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame.

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

15I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.

16I was a father to the needy: And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.

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

16I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.

17And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth.

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

17By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.

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

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

18Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;

19My root is spread out to the waters, And the dew lieth all night upon my branch:

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

19My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,

20My glory is fresh in me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.

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

20My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.

21Unto me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.

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

21Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.

22After my words they spake not again; And my speech distilled upon them.

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

22After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;

23And they waited for me as for the rain; And they opened their mouth wideasfor the latter rain.

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

23They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.

24I smiled on them, when they had no confidence; And the light of my countenance they cast not down.

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

24I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.

25I chose out their way, and sataschief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners.

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

25I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...