The Book of Job 29

^1✦ Moreover Job continued his parable and said ⚑

^2✦ Oh that I were as in months past as in the days when God preserved me ⚑

^3✦ When his candle shined upon my head and when by his light I walked through darkness ⚑

^4✦ As I was in the days of my youth when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle ⚑

^5✦ When the Almighty was yet with me when my children were about me ⚑

^6✦ When I washed my steps with butter and the rock poured me out rivers of oil ⚑

^7✦ When I went out to the gate through the city when I prepared my seat in the street ⚑

^8✦ The young men saw me and hid themselves and the aged arose and stood up ⚑

^9✦ The princes refrained talking and laid their hand on their mouth ⚑

^10✦ The nobles held their peace and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth ⚑

^11✦ When the ear heard me then it blessed me and when the eye saw me it gave witness to me ⚑

^12✦ Because I delivered the poor that cried and the fatherless and him that had none to help him ⚑

^13✦ 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 on righteousness and it clothed me my judgment was as a robe and a diadem ⚑

^15✦ I was eyes to the blind and feet was I to the lame ⚑

^16✦ I was a father to the poor and the cause which I knew not I searched out ⚑

^17✦ And I brake the jaws of the wicked and plucked the spoil out of his teeth ⚑

^18✦ Then I said I shall die in my nest and I shall multiply my days as the sand ⚑

^19✦ My root was spread out by the waters and the dew lay all night upon my branch ⚑

^20✦ My glory was fresh in me and my bow was renewed in my hand ⚑

^21✦ Unto me men gave ear and waited and kept silence at my counsel ⚑

^22✦ After my words they spake not again and my speech dropped upon them ⚑

^23✦ And they waited for me as for the rain and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain ⚑

^24✦ If I laughed on them they believed it not and the light of my countenance they cast not down ⚑

^25✦ I chose out their way and sat chief and dwelt as a king in the army as one that comforteth the mourners ⚑