Jó 29

¹ So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,

² Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued me!

³ When hisWhen I felt his favour.candle shined upon my head, [and when] by his light I walked [through]I was free from affliction.darkness;

⁴ As I was in the days of my youth, when theThat is, seemed by evident tokens to be more present with me.secret of God [was] upon my tabernacle;

⁵ When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.

⁶ When I washed my stepsBy these comparisons he declares the great prosperity that he was in, so that he had no opportunity to be such a sinner as they accused him.with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

⁷ When I went out to the gate, euen to the iudgement seat, and when I caused them to prepare my seate in the streete.

⁸ The young men saw me, andBeing ashamed of their lightness and afraid of my gravity.hid themselves: and the aged arose, [and] stood up.

⁹ The princes refrained talking, and laid [their] hand on theirAcknowledging my wisdom.mouth.

¹⁰ The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.

¹¹ When theAll that heard me, praised me.ear heard [me], then it blessed me; and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me:

¹² Because I delivered theBecause his adversaries did so much charge him with wickedness, he is compelled to render account of his life.poor that cried, and the fatherless, and [him that had] none to help him.

¹³ That is, I helped him who was in distress, and so he had cause to praise me.The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

¹⁴ I put onI delighted to do justice, as others did to wear costly apparel.righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment [was] as a robe and a diadem.

¹⁵ I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.

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

¹⁷ I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.

¹⁸ Then I said, I shall die in myThat is, at home in my bed without all trouble and unquietness.nest, and I shall multiply [my] days as the sand.

¹⁹ My root [was]My happiness increases.spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

²⁰ My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.

²¹ Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.

²² After my words they spake not again; and my speechThat is, was pleasant to them.dropped upon them.

²³ And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wideAs the dry ground thirsts for the rain.[as] for the latter rain.

²⁴ [If] IThat is, they thought it not to be a rest, or they did not think that I would condescend to them.laughed on them, they believed [it] not; and the light of my countenance theyThey were afraid to offend me and cause me to be angry.cast not down.

²⁵ I chose outI had them at commandment.their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one [that] comforteth the mourners.