Chapter 29

  And Job again took up the word and said,  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  For 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.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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