Job 29

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