Job 29

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