Job 29

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,	1 Job took up his theme anew and said;
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;	2 Oh, that I were as in the months past! as in the days when God watched over me,
3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;	3 While he kept his lamp shining above my head, and 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;	4 As I was in my flourishing days, when God sheltered my tent;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;	5 When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were round about me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;	6 When my footsteps were bathed in milk, and the rock flowed with streams of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!	7 When I went forth to the gate of the city and set up my seat in the square-
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.	8 Then the young men saw me and withdrew, while the elders rose up and stood;
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.	9 The chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.	10 The voice of the princes was silenced, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:	11 Whoever heard of me blessed me; those who saw me commended me.
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.	12 For I rescued the poor who cried out for help, the orphans, and the unassisted;
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.	13 The blessing of those in extremity came upon me, and the heart of the widow I made joyful.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.	14 I wore my honesty like a garment; justice was my robe and my turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.	15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame was I;
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.	16 I was a father to the needy; the rights of the stranger I studied,
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.	17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked man; from his teeth I forced the prey.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.	18 Then I said: "In my own nest I shall grow old; I shall multiply years like the phoenix.
19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.	19 My root is spread out to the waters; the dew rests by night on my branches.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.	20 My glory is fresh within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand!"
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.	21 For me they listened and waited; they were silent for my counsel.
22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.	22 Once I spoke, they said no more, but received my pronouncement drop by drop.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.	23 They waited for me as for the rain; they drank in my words like the spring rains.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.	24 When I smiled on them they were reassured;
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.	25 mourners took comfort from my cheerful glance. I chose out their way and presided; I took a king's place in the armed forces.