Job 29:1-25 AMPC

[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 above and upon my head and by His light I walked through darkness; [4] As I was in the [prime] ripeness of my days, when the friendship and counsel of God were over my tent, [5] When the Almighty was yet with me and my children were about me, [6] When my steps [through rich pasturage] were washed with butter and the rock poured out for me streams of oil! [7] When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the street [the broad place for the council at the city's gate], [8] The young men saw me and hid themselves; the aged rose up and stood; [9] The princes refrained from talking and laid their hands on their mouths; [10] The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues cleaved to the roof of their mouths. [11] For when the ear heard, it called me happy and blessed me; and when the eye saw, it testified for me [approvingly], [12] Because I delivered the poor who cried, the fatherless and him who had none to help him. [13] The blessing of him who was about 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 or clothed itself with me; my justice was like a robe and a turban or a diadem or a crown! [15] I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. [16] I was a father to the poor and needy; the cause of him I did not know I searched out. [17] And I broke the jaws or the big teeth of the unrighteous and plucked the prey out of his teeth. [18] Then I said, I shall die in or beside my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. [19] My root is spread out and open to the waters, and the dew lies all night upon my branch. [20] My glory and honor are fresh in me [being constantly renewed], and my bow gains [ever] new strength in my hand. [21] Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel. [22] After I spoke, they did not speak again, and my speech dropped upon them [like a refreshing shower]. [23] And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouths wide as for the spring rain. [24] I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and their depression did not cast down the light of my countenance. [25] I chose their way [for them] and sat as [their] chief, and dwelt like a king among his soldiers, like one who comforts mourners.