Job 29:1-16 ▼

1 And Job again took up his discussion and said,

2 “Oh, that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me,

3 When His lamp shone upon my head And by His light I walked through darkness;

4 As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship and counsel of God were over my tent,

5 When the Almighty was still with me And my boys were around me,

6 When my steps [through rich pastures] were washed with butter and cream [from my livestock], And the rock poured out for me streams of oil [from my olive groves].

7 “When I went out to the gate of the city, When I took my seat [as a city father] in the square,

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, The aged arose and stood [respectfully];

9 The princes stopped talking And put their hands on their mouths;

10 The voices of the nobles were hushed, And their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11 “For when an ear heard [my name mentioned], it called me happy and fortunate; And when an eye saw [me], it testified for me [approvingly],

12 Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, And the orphan who had no helper.

13 “The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

14 “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban!

15 “I was eyes to the blind And I was feet to the lame.

16 “I was a father to the needy; I investigated the case I did not know [and assured justice].