Rotherham - Job - 29

29:1  And Job again took up his measure, and said,

29:2  Oh that it were with me as in the months of old, as in the days, when, GOD, used to watch over me;

29:3  When his lamp shone over my head, by whose light, I could go through darkness;

29:4  As I was, in the days of my prime, when, the intimacy of GOD, was over my tent;

29:5  While yet the Almighty was with me, round about me, were my young men;

29:6  When my steps were bathed in milk, and, the rock, poured out beside me, rivulets of oil:

29:7  When I went out to the gate unto the city, in the open place, made ready my seat,

29:8  Young men saw me, and hid themselves, and, the aged, arose—they stood;

29:9  Rulers, restrained speech, and, a hand, laid they on their mouth;

29:10  The voice of nobles, was hushed, and their tongue to their palate, did cleave;

29:11  When, the ear, heard, then it pronounced me happy, When, the eye, saw, then it bare me witness;

29:12  Because I used to deliver the oppressed who was crying out for aid, the fatherless also, and him that had no helper;

29:13  The blessing of him that was ready to perish, upon me was wont to descend, and, the heart of the widow, caused I to sing for joy;

29:14  Righteousness, I put on, and it clothed me, Like a robe and turban, was my, justice;

29:15  Eyes, became I to the, blind, and, feet to the lame, was, I!

29:16  A father, was, I, to the needy, and, as for the cause which I knew not, I used to search it out;

29:17  And I shivered the fangs of the perverse,—and, out of his teeth, I tare the prey.

29:18  Then said I, Like a stem, shall I grow old, yea, as the sand, shall I multiply days:

29:19  My root, is laid open to the waters, and, the dew, shall lodge for the night in my boughs;

29:20  Mine honour, shall be young again with me, and, my bow, in my hand, be renewed.

29:21  To me, men hearkened, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel;

29:22  After I had spoken, they spake not again, and, upon them, used my speech to drop;

29:23  And they waited, as for rain, for me, and, their mouths, they opened wide for the spring-rain;

29:24  I laughed at them—they lost confidence, and, the light of my countenance, they suffered not to fail;

29:25  I chose out their way, and sat chief,—and abode, as king, in an army, as one who, to mourners, giveth comfort.