Job 29

1And Job continued and said in his parable,

2Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!

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

4[As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.

5When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;

6when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.

7When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.

8The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.

9And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.

10And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.

11For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.

12For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.

13Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.

14Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle.

15I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.

16I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.

17And I broke the jaw-teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.

18And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm-tree; I shall live a long while.

19[My] root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.

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

21[Men] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.

22At my word they spoke not again, and they were very glad whenever I spoke to them.

23As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.

24Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.

25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.