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Chapter 29

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Job took up his theme anew and said;

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Oh, that I were as in the months past! as in the days when God watched over me,

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While he kept his lamp shining above my head, and by his light I walked through darkness;

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As I was in my flourishing days, when God sheltered my tent;

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When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were round about me;

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¹ When my footsteps were bathed in milk, and the rock flowed with streams of oil;

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When I went forth to the gate of the city and set up my seat in the square -

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Then the young men saw me and withdrew, while the elders rose up and stood;

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The chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;

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The voice of the princes was silenced, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

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For me they listened and waited; they were silent for my counsel.

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Once I spoke, they said no more, but received my pronouncement drop by drop.

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They waited for me as for the rain; they drank in my words like the spring rains.

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When I smiled on them they were reassured;

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mourners took comfort from my cheerful glance. I chose out their way and presided; I took a king's place in the armed forces.

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Whoever heard of me blessed me; those who saw me commended me.

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For I rescued the poor who cried out for help, the orphans, and the unassisted;

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The blessing of those in extremity came upon me, and the heart of the widow I made joyful.

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I wore my honesty like a garment; justice was my robe and my turban.

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I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame was I;

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I was a father to the needy; the rights of the stranger I studied,

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And I broke the jaws of the wicked man; from his teeth I forced the prey.

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² Then I said: "In my own nest I shall grow old; I shall multiply years like the phoenix.

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My root is spread out to the waters; the dew rests by night on my branches.

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My glory is fresh within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand!"