Job 29

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Job took up his theme anew and said;	1 And Job continued his solemn discourse. He said:
2 Oh, that I were as in the months past! as in the days when God watched over me,	2 Wil no one bring back to me the months that have gone, and the days when God was my guardian,
3 While he kept his lamp shining above my head, and 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 my flourishing days, when God sheltered my tent;	4 Shal I ever see my days of harvest again when God protected my tent;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were round about me;	5 when Shaddai stil dwelt with me, and my children were around me;
6 When my footsteps were bathed in milk, and the rock flowed with streams of oil;	6 when my feet were bathed in milk, and streams of oil poured from the rocks?
7 When I went forth to the gate of the city and set up my seat in the square-	7 When I went out to the gate of the city, when I took my seat in the square,
8 Then the young men saw me and withdrew, while the elders rose up and stood;	8 as soon as I appeared, the young men stepped aside, and the old men rose to their feet.
9 The chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;	9 Men of note broke off their speeches, and put their hands over their mouths;
10 The voice of the princes was silenced, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.	10 the voices of rulers were silenced, and their tongues stayed stil in their mouths.
11 Whoever heard of me blessed me; those who saw me commended me.	11 On hearing me, people congratulated me, on seeing me, people deferred to me,
12 For I rescued the poor who cried out for help, the orphans, and the unassisted;	12 because I freed the poor in distress and the orphan who had no helper.
13 The blessing of those in extremity came upon me, and the heart of the widow I made joyful.	13 The dying man's blessing rested on me and I gave the widow's heart cause to rejoice.
14 I wore my honesty like a garment; justice was my robe and my turban.	14 Uprightness I wore as a garment, fair judgement was my cloak and my turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame was I;	15 I was eyes for the blind, and feet for the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy; the rights of the stranger I studied,	16 Who but me was father of the poor? The stranger's case had a hearing from me.
17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked man; from his teeth I forced the prey.	17 I used to break the fangs of the wicked, and snatch their prey from their jaws.
18 Then I said: "In my own nest I shall grow old; I shall multiply years like the phoenix.	18 And I used to say, 'I shall die in honour, after days as numerous as the sand.
19 My root is spread out to the waters; the dew rests by night on my branches.	19 My roots can reach the water, the dews of night settle on my leaves.
20 My glory is fresh within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand!"	20 My glory wil be for ever new and the bow in my hand for ever strong.'
21 For me they listened and waited; they were silent for my counsel.	21 They waited anxiously to hear me, and listened in silence to what I had to say.
22 Once I spoke, they said no more, but received my pronouncement drop by drop.	22 When I had finished, no one contradicted, my words dropping on them, one by one.
23 They waited for me as for the rain; they drank in my words like the spring rains.	23 They waited for me as though for rain, open-mouthed as though for a late shower.
24 When I smiled on them they were reassured;	24 If I smiled at them, it was too good to be true, they watched my face for the least sign of favour.
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.	25 As their chief, I told them which course to take, like a king living among his troops, and I led themwherever I chose.