Job 29

1Job again lifted up his parable and said.

2Who will set me as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me.

3when his lamp shone over my head, by his light I walked through darkness.

4as I was in the days of my youth, in the council of God upon my tent.

5When the Almighty was still with me, my children all around me.

6as I bathed my steps in butter, and the rock poured streams of oil for me.

7when I went out to the gate of the city, when I established my seat in the square.

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

9The princes held back their words and put their hand to their mouths.

10The voices of the nobles were silenced, and their tongues clung to the roofs of their mouths.

11The hearing ear blessed me, and the seeing eye testified to me.

12Because I rescued the afflicted who cried out, and the orphan who had no helper.

13The blessing of the perishing one came upon me, and I made the widow's heart sing for joy.

14I clothed myself with righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a diadem.

15I was eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.

16I was a father to the needy, and the cause I did not know I searched out.

17I shattered the fangs of the wicked and hurled the prey from his teeth.

18I said, I will die in my nest, and like sand I will multiply my days.

19My root spreads out to the waters, and dew abides on my branch.

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

21They listened to me attentively, waited expectantly, and stayed silent for my counsel.

22After my words they did not speak again, and my speech dripped upon them.

23They waited for me as for rain, and opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain.

24I smiled on them when they had no faith, and they did not cast down the light of my face.

25I chose their way and sat as chief, dwelling like a king in the troop, as one who comforts mourners.