Chapter 29

  Moreover, Job continued his parable, and said,  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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