Job 29

1Job resumed speaking and said, 2“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months 3when his lamp shined on my head, 4Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days 5when the Almighty was yet with me, 6when my way was covered with cream, 7When I went out to the city gate, 8the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, 9The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; 10The voices of the noblemen were hushed, 11For after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; 12because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, 13The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; 14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; 15I was eyes to blind people; 16I was a father to needy people; 17I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; 18Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; 19My roots are spread out to the waters, 20The honor in me is always fresh, 21To me men listened; they waited for me; 22After my words were done, they did not speak again; 23They always waited for me as they waited for rain; 24I smiled on them when they did not expect it;