Job 29

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,	1 And Job continued his solemn discourse. He said:
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;	2 Wil no one bring back to me the months that have gone, and the days when God was my guardian,
3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;	3 when his lamp shone over my head, and his light was my guide in the darkness?
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;	4 Shal I ever see my days of harvest again when God protected my tent;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;	5 when Shaddai stil dwelt with me, and my children were around me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;	6 when my feet were bathed in milk, and streams of oil poured from the rocks?
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!	7 When I went out to the gate of the city, when I took my seat in the square,
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.	8 as soon as I appeared, the young men stepped aside, and the old men rose to their feet.
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.	9 Men of note broke off their speeches, and put their hands over their mouths;
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.	10 the voices of rulers were silenced, and their tongues stayed stil in their mouths.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:	11 On hearing me, people congratulated me, on seeing me, people deferred to me,
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.	12 because I freed the poor in distress and the orphan who had no helper.
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 dying man's blessing rested on me and I gave the widow's heart cause to rejoice.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.	14 Uprightness I wore as a garment, fair judgement was my cloak and my turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.	15 I was eyes for the blind, and feet for the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.	16 Who but me was father of the poor? The stranger's case had a hearing from me.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.	17 I used to break the fangs of the wicked, and snatch their prey from their jaws.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.	18 And I used to say, 'I shall die in honour, after days as numerous as the sand.
19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.	19 My roots can reach the water, the dews of night settle on my leaves.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.	20 My glory wil be for ever new and the bow in my hand for ever strong.'
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.	21 They waited anxiously to hear me, and listened in silence to what I had to say.
22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.	22 When I had finished, no one contradicted, my words dropping on them, one by one.
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 though for rain, open-mouthed as though for a late shower.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.	24 If I smiled at them, it was too good to be true, they watched my face for the least sign of favour.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.	25 As their chief, I told them which course to take, like a king living among his troops, and I led themwherever I chose.