Job 29 (King James Version)

1 Moreover Job continued^a his parable, and said , 2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; 3 When his candle^b shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; 4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; 5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; 6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; 7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! 8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose , and stood up . 9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. 10 The nobles^c held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: 12 Because I delivered the poor that cried , and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. 13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy . 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. 16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out . 17 And I brake the jaws^d of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. 18 Then I said , I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. 19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. 20 My glory was fresh^e in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. 21 Unto me men gave ear , and waited , and kept silence at my counsel. 22 After my words they spake not again ; and my speech dropped upon them. 23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down . 25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.