Job 29

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 And Job continued his solemn discourse. He said:	1 Job also added to this, using figures of speech, and he said:
2 Wil no one bring back to me the months that have gone, and the days when God was my guardian,	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 shone over my head, and his light was my guide in the darkness?	3 At that time, his lamp shined over my head, and by his light, I walked through the darkness.
4 Shal I ever see my days of harvest again when God protected my tent;	4 I was then just as in the days of my youth, when God was privately in my tabernacle.
5 when Shaddai stil dwelt with me, and my children were around me;	5 At that time, the Almighty was with me and my children surrounded me.
6 when my feet were bathed in milk, and streams of oil poured from the rocks?	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, when I took my seat in the square,	7 When I went to the gate of the city, or to the main street, they prepared a chair for me.
8 as soon as I appeared, the young men stepped aside, and the old men rose to their feet.	8 The youths saw me and hid themselves, and the elders, rising up, remained standing.
9 Men of note broke off their speeches, and put their hands over their mouths;	9 The leaders stopped talking, and they placed a finder over their mouth.
10 the voices of rulers were silenced, and their tongues stayed stil in their mouths.	10 The commanders subdued their voice, and their tongue adhered to their throat.
11 On hearing me, people congratulated me, on seeing me, people deferred to me,	11 The ear that heard me, blessed me, and the eye that saw me, gave testimony for me.
12 because I freed the poor in distress and the orphan who had no helper.	12 This was because I had freed the poor, who cried out, and the orphan, who had no helper.
13 The dying man's blessing rested on me and I gave the widow's heart cause to rejoice.	13 The blessing of him who would have been destroyed came upon me, and I consoled the heart of the widow.
14 Uprightness I wore as a garment, fair judgement was my cloak and my turban.	14 I put on justice, and I clothed myself with my judgment, like a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes for the blind, and feet for the lame.	15 I was an eye for the blind and a foot for the lame.
16 Who but me was father of the poor? The stranger's case had a hearing from me.	16 I was the father of the poor; and if I lacked knowledge about any case, I investigated very diligently.
17 I used to break the fangs of the wicked, and snatch their prey from their jaws.	17 I crushed the jaws of the impious, and I took away prey from his teeth.
18 And I used to say, 'I shall die in honour, after days as numerous as the sand.	18 And I said, “I will die in my little nest, and like a palm tree, I will multiply my days.
19 My roots can reach the water, the dews of night settle on my leaves.	19 My root has been spread beside the waters, and the dew will remain with my harvest.
20 My glory wil be for ever new and the bow in my hand for ever strong.'	20 My glory will always be restored, and my bow will be restored to my hand.”
21 They waited anxiously to hear me, and listened in silence to what I had to say.	21 Those who heard me, expected vindication, and they listened closely in silence to my counsel.
22 When I had finished, no one contradicted, my words dropping on them, one by one.	22 To my words, they dared to add nothing, and my eloquence poured over them.
23 They waited for me as though for rain, open-mouthed as though for a late shower.	23 They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for belated 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 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 As their chief, I told them which course to take, like a king living among his troops, and I led themwherever I chose.	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.