1.       Job Remembers His Happy Past . . 29:1-25

Job 29:1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

Job 29:2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

Job 29:3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

Job 29:4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

Job 29:5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

Job 29:6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

Job 29:7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

Job 29:8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

Job 29:9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

Job 29:10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

Job 29:11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

Job 29:12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

Job 29:13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

Job 29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

Job 29:15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

Job 29:16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

Job 29:17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

Job 29:18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

Job 29:19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

Job 29:20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

Job 29:21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.

Job 29:22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

Job 29:23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

Job 29:24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

Job 29:25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.