Job 29

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:	1 Job also added to this, using figures of speech, and he 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 Who will grant to me that I might be as I was in former months, according to the days when God kept watch over me?
3 When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in darkness?	3 At that time, his lamp shined over my head, and by his light, I walked through the darkness.
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when God was secretly in my tabernacle?	4 I was then just as in the days of my youth, when God was privately in my tabernacle.
5 When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me?	5 At that time, the Almighty was with me and my children surrounded me.
6 When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil?	6 Then, I washed my feet with butter, and a boulder poured out rivers of oil for me.
7 When I went out to the gate of the city, and in the street they prepared me a chair?	7 When I went to the gate of the city, or to the main street, they prepared a chair for me.
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the old men rose up and stood.	8 The youths saw me and hid themselves, and the elders, rising up, remained standing.
9 The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth.	9 The leaders stopped talking, and they placed a finder over their mouth.
10 The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.	10 The commanders subdued their voice, and their tongue adhered to their throat.
11 The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave witness to me:	11 The ear that heard me, blessed me, and the eye that saw me, gave testimony for me.
12 Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the fatherless that had no helper.	12 This was because I had freed the poor, who cried out, and the orphan, who had no helper.
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 him who would have been destroyed came upon me, and I consoled the heart of the widow.
14 I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment, as with a robe and a diadem.	14 I put on justice, and I clothed myself with my judgment, like a robe and a diadem.
15 I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame.	15 I was an eye for the blind and a foot for the lame.
16 I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently.	16 I was the father of the poor; and if I lacked knowledge about any case, I investigated very diligently.
17 I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey.	17 I crushed the jaws of the impious, and I took away prey from his teeth.
18 And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm tree shall multiply my days.	18 And I said, “I will die in my little nest, and like a palm tree, I will multiply my days.
19 My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.	19 My root has been spread beside the waters, and the dew will remain with my harvest.
20 My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.	20 My glory will always be restored, and my bow will be restored to my hand.”
21 They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive held their peace at my counsel.	21 Those who heard me, expected vindication, and they listened closely in silence to my counsel.
22 To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them.	22 To my words, they dared to add nothing, and my eloquence poured over them.
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 rain, and they opened their mouth as for belated rains.
24 If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the light of my countenance fell not on earth.	24 If I had ever laughed at them, they would not have believed it, and the light of my face was not cast down towards the ground.
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 If I wished to go to them, I sat down first, and, though I sat like a king surrounded by an army, yet I was a comforter to whose who mourned.