Job 29

1Then Job took up his discourse again: 2Oh, that I were as in the months gone by, as in the days when God watched over me, 3when his lamp shone above my head, and by his light I walked through the darkness, 4as I was in the days of my prime, when God’s friendship was over my tent, 5when the Almighty was still with me and my children were all around me, 6when my steps were bathed in cream, and the rock poured out streams of olive oil for me! 7When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square, 8the young men saw me and stepped aside, and the old men rose and stood; 9officials stopped talking and put their hands over their mouths; 10the voices of the nobles fell silent, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths. 11When anyone heard me, they called me blessed, and when anyone saw me, they spoke well of me, 12because I rescued the poor who cried for help and the fatherless who had no one to help them. 13The blessing of those who were about to perish came upon me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. 14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. 15I was eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. 16I was a father to the needy, and I looked into the case of the stranger. 17I broke the fangs of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth. 18I said, I will die in my own nest, and my days will be as many as the grains of sand. 19My roots reach out to the water, and the dew lies all night on my branches. 20My honor stays fresh with me, and my bow is ever new in my hand. 21People listened to me and waited; they kept silent for my advice. 22After I spoke, they did not speak again; my words fell on them like drops of rain. 23They waited for me as for the rain and opened their mouths wide as for the spring rain. 24I smiled on them when they had lost confidence, and they did not cast down the light of my face. 25I chose the way for them and sat as their chief; I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts those who mourn.