Job 29 · איוב

Moreover Iyyov continued his discourse, and said,

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

when his candle shone upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

as I was in the days of my youth, when God shielded my tent;

when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

when I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

when I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the broad place!

The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me;

because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, that had none to help him.

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

I put on righteousness, and my justice clothed me, as a robe and a diadem.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

And I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days like the sand.

My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew shall lie all night upon my branch.

My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow shall be renewed in my hand.

To me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.

After my words they did not speak again; and my speech dropped upon them.

And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

If I laughed at them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforts the mourners.