^29:1 And Job again took up his discourse and said, ^29:2 O that I were as in the months of long-ago, as in the days when God watched over me, ^29:3 when his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I walked through darkness, ^29:4 as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was upon my tent,^29:5 when the Almighty was yet with me and my sons were about me, ^29:6 when my steps were washed with butter and the rock poured out streams of oil to me,^29:7 when I went forth to the gate to the city, when I prepared my seat in the street.

    ^29:8 The young men saw me and hid themselves and the aged rose up and stood. ^29:9 The rulers refrained from talking and laid their hand on their mouth. ^29:10 The voice of the ranking men was hushed and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth. ^29:11For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me and when the eye saw me, it testified to me.

    ^29:12 Because I delivered the poor who cried, also the fatherless who had none to help him. ^29:13 The blessing of him who was ready to perish came upon me and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

    ^29:14 I put on righteousness and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.

    ^29:15 I was eyes to the blind and I was feet to the lame. ^29:16 I was a father to the needy and I searched out the case of he whom I did not know. ^29:17 And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

    ^29:18 Then I said, I will die in my nest and I will multiply my days as the sand. ^29:19 My root is spread out to the waters and the dew lays all night upon my limbs. ^29:20 My glory is fresh in me and my bow is renewed in my hand.

    ^29:21 To me men gave ear and waited and kept silence for my counsel. ^29:22 After my words they spoke not again and my speech distilled upon them.^29:23 And they waited for me as for the rain. And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

    ^29:24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence and they did not cast down the light of my countenance. ^29:25 I chose out their way and sat as chief and dwelt as a king in the army, as a man who comforts the mourners.