Job 29

1 So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,

Job went on speaking.

2 Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued me!

“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!

3 When his light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse,

His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.

4 As I was in the dayes of my youth: when Gods prouidence was vpon my tabernacle:

When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.

5 When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.

The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.

6 When I washed my pathes with butter, and when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle:

My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.

7 When I went out to the gate, euen to the iudgement seat, and when I caused them to prepare my seate in the streete.

I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.

8 The yong men saw me, and hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp.

The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.

9 The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.

The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.

10 The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.

The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.

11 And when the eare heard me, it blessed me: and when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me.

Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,

12 For I deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.

because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.

13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish, came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce.

Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.

14 I put on iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne.

Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.

15 I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.

I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.

16 I was a father vnto the poore, and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out diligently.

I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.

17 I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.

I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.

18 Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.

I thought I would die at home, after many years.

19 For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.

Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.

20 My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.

Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.

21 Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.

People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.

22 After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.

Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.

23 And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.

They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.

24 If I laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.

When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.

25 I appoynted out their way, and did sit as chiefe, and dwelt as a King in the army, and like him that comforteth the mourners.

I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.