Job relates his former happiness – Book of Job, chapter 29

Job relates his former happiness, and the respect that all men shewed him.

[1] Job also added, taking up his parable, and said: [2] Who will grant me, that I might be according to the months past, according to the days in which God kept me? [3] When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in darkness? [4] As I was in the days of my youth, when God was secretly in my tabernacle? [5] When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me?

[6] When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil? [7] When I went out to the gate of the city, and in the street they prepared me a chair? [8] The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the old men rose up and stood. [9] The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth. [10] The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.

[11] The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave witness to me: [12] Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the fatherless that had no helper. [13] The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I comforted the heart of the widow. [14] I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment, as with a robe and a diadem. [15] I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame.

[16] I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently. [17] I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey. [18] And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm tree shall multiply my days. [19] My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest. [20] My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.

[21] They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive held their peace at my counsel. [22] To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them. [23] They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for a latter shower. [24] If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the light of my countenance fell not on earth. [25] If I had a mind to go to them, I sat first, and when I sat as a king, with his army standing about him, yet I was a comforter of them that mourned.