Job 29

Job again took up his discourse and said: “If only I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone over my head and by his light I walked through darkness! As I was in the days of my prime, when God's friendship was over my tent, when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, when my steps were bathed in curds and the rock poured out streams of oil for me! When I went out to the city gate and prepared my seat in the square, young men saw me and hid themselves;
the aged rose and stood. Princes held back their words and put a hand over their mouth. The voice of nobles was hushed, and their tongue clung to their palate. When the ear heard, it called me blessed;
when the eye saw, it bore witness for me, because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had no helper. The blessing of the one about to perish came upon me, and I made the widow's heart sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
my justice was like a robe and a turban. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the case I did not know. I broke the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth. Then I said, ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days like the sand. My root is open to the waters, and dew spends the night on my branch. My glory is fresh with me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’ They listened to me and waited;
they kept silent at my counsel. After my words they did not speak again, and my speech dripped upon them. They waited for me as for rain and opened their mouths wide for the latter rain. I smiled at them, and they did not believe it;
they did not cast down the light of my face. I chose their way and sat as chief;
I dwelt like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.

Rights and attribution