Job 29 in Puritan & Reformed Writings

[1] Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, [2] Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; [3] When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; [4] As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; [5] When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; [6] When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; [7] When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! [8] The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. [9] The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. [10] The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. [11] When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: [12] Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. [13] The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. [14] I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. [15] I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. [16] I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. [17] And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. [18] Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. [19] My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. [20] My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. [21] Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. [22] After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. [23] And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. [24] If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. [25] I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.