Job 29

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:	1 Job took up his theme anew and said;
2 Who will grant me, that I might be according to the months past, according to the days in which God kept me?	2 Oh, that I were as in the months past! as in the days when God watched over me,
3 When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in 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 God was secretly in my tabernacle?	4 As I was in my flourishing days, when God sheltered my tent;
5 When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me?	5 When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were round about me;
6 When I washed my feet 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 of the city, and in the street they prepared me a chair?	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 old men rose up and stood.	8 Then the young men saw me and withdrew, while the elders rose up and stood;
9 The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth.	9 The chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;
10 The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.	10 The voice of the princes was silenced, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11 The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave witness to me:	11 Whoever heard of me blessed me; those who saw me commended me.
12 Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the fatherless that had no helper.	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 comforted the heart of the widow.	13 The blessing of those in extremity came upon me, and the heart of the widow I made joyful.
14 I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment, as with a robe and a diadem.	14 I wore my honesty like a garment; justice was my robe and my turban.
15 I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame.	15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame was I;
16 I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently.	16 I was a father to the needy; the rights of the stranger I studied,
17 I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey.	17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked man; from his teeth I forced the prey.
18 And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm tree shall multiply my days.	18 Then I said: "In my own nest I shall grow old; I shall multiply years like the phoenix.
19 My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.	19 My root is spread out to the waters; the dew rests by night on my branches.
20 My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.	20 My glory is fresh within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand!"
21 They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive held their peace at my counsel.	21 For me they listened and waited; they were silent for my counsel.
22 To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them.	22 Once I spoke, they said no more, but received my pronouncement drop by drop.
23 They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for a latter shower.	23 They waited for me as for the rain; they drank in my words like the spring rains.
24 If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the light of my countenance fell not on earth.	24 When I smiled on them they were reassured;
25 If I had a mind to go to them, I sat first, and when I sat as a king, with his army standing about him, yet I was a comforter of them that mourned.	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.