Job 29

1 moreover job continued his parable, and said, 2 oh that i were as in months past, as in the days when god preserved me; 3 when his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light i walked through darkness; 4 as i was in the days of my youth, when the secret of god was upon my tabernacle; 5 when the almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; 6 when i washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; 7 when i went out to the gate through the city, when i prepared my seat in the street! 8 the young men saw me, and hid themselves and the aged arose, and stood up 9 the princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth 10 the nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth 11 when the ear heard me , then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me , it gave witness to me 12 because i delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him 13 the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me and i caused the widow's heart to sing for joy 14 i put on righteousness, and it clothed me my judgment was as a robe and a diadem 15 i was eyes to the blind, and feet was i to the lame 16 i was a father to the poor and the cause which i knew not i searched out 17 and i brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth 18 then i said, i shall die in my nest, and i shall multiply my days as the sand 19 my root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch 20 my glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand 21 unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel 22 after my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them 23 and they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain 24 if i laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down 25 i chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners