Job 29:7-25 ▼

7 When I went out to the gate, euen to the iudgement seate, and when I prepared my seate in the streete:

8 The young men saw me and hid them selues, and the aged arose, and stoode vp.

9 The princes left of their talking, and layed their hand to their mouth:

10 The mightie kept still their voyce, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.

11 When the eare heard me, it blessed me: & when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me:

12 For I deliuered the poore when he cryed, and the fatherlesse, and hym that had none to helpe hym.

13 The blessing of him that was redy to perishe came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce.

14 And why? I put vpon me righteousnesse, which couered me as a garment, and equitie was my crowne.

15 I was an eye to the blinde, and a foote to the lame.

16 I was a father to the poore: and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out diligently.

17 I brake the iawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the spoyle out of his teeth.

18 Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest: and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sande.

19 For my roote was spread out by the waterside: and the deawe lay vpon my corne.

20 Myne honour encreased more and more, & my bow was euer the stronger in my hande.

21 Unto me men gaue eare, me they regarded, and with scilence they taried for my counsell.

22 After my woordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.

23 They wayted for me as for the raine: and gaped vpon me, as the grounde doeth to receaue the latter shoure.

24 When I laughed, they beleued it not, & the light of my countenaunce would they not put out.

25 When I agreed vnto their way, I was the chiefe, and sate as a king with his armie about him: and when they were in heauinesse, I was their comfortour.