AFV2020 - Job - 29

29:1  And Job continued speaking, and said,

29:2  "Oh, that I were as in months past, as in the days when God watched over me;

29:3  When His lamp shined upon my head; and when I walked through darkness by His light;

29:4  As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

29:5  When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me;

29:6  When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock pressed out rivers of oil for me;

29:7  When I went out to the gate of the city; when I prepared my seat in the square!

29:8  The young men saw me and hid themselves; and the aged arose and stood up.

29:9  The rulers refrained from talking, and laid their hands on their mouths.

29:10  The noble's voice was subdued, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouth.

29:11  When the ear heard me then it blessed me. And when the eye saw me it gave witness to me.

29:12  For I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help.

29:13  The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

29:14  I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a diadem.

29:15  I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.

29:16  I was a father to the poor; and the cause which I did not know, I searched out.

29:17  I broke the fangs of the wicked, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

29:18  Then I said, 'I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days like the sand.'

29:19  My root was spread out to the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

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

29:21  They listened to me, and waited, and kept silent at my counsel.

29:22  After my words they did not speak again; and my speech dropped on them.

29:23  And they waited for me like the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

29:24  I smiled on them when they did not believe; and the light of my countenance they did not cast down.

29:25  I chose out their way, and sat as chief; and I lived like a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners."