AB - Job - 29

29:1  And Job continued and said in his discourse,

29:2  Oh that I were as in months past, in the days when God preserved me!

29:3  As when His lamp shone over my head; when by His light I walked through darkness.

29:4  As when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.

29:5  When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;

29:6  when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.

29:7  When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.

29:8  The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.

29:9  And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.

29:10  And they that heard me blessed me, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.

29:11  For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.

29:12  For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.

29:13  Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.

29:14  Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle.

29:15  I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.

29:16  I was the father of the helpless, and I searched out the cause which I knew not.

29:17  And I broke the fangs of the wicked; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.

29:18  And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm tree; I shall live a long while.

29:19  My root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.

29:20  My glory was fresh in me, and my bow prospered in my hand.

29:21  Men heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.

29:22  At my word they spoke not again, and they were very glad whenever I spoke to them.

29:23  As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they waited for my speech.

29:24  Were I to laugh at them, they would not believe it; and the light of my face has not failed.

29:25  I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.