Job, 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. •