The Holy Bible – Knox Translation
The Book of Job
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Chapter 29
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And thus Job continued to lay bare his thought:
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Alas for the changes the months have brought with them! Alas for the old days, when God was my protector,
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when his light shone above me, its rays guiding me through the darkness!
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Days of ripe manhood, when God was my home’s familiar guest,
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he, the Almighty, at my side! I had my children still about me;
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the milk frothed in pools at my feet, no rock so hard but my olives bathed it in oil.
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Went I to the city gate, there was my seat ready for me in the open square;
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rose the young men to make place for me, rose the aged to do me honour;
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nobles fell silent, and waited, finger on lip,
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words failed the chieftains, and counsel they gave no more.
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None heard the fame of me then, but called me a happy man; none watched my doings then, but spoke in my praise.
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Poor man nor helpless orphan cried to me in vain;
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how they blessed me, souls reprieved from instant peril; with what comfort the widow’s heart rejoiced!
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Dutiful observance was still the vesture I wore, my robe and crown integrity;
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in me, the blind found sight, the lame strength,
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the poor a father. None so ready to give the stranger’s cause a hearing,
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break open the fangs of the wrong-doer and snatch the prey from his teeth.
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Here, thought I, I have built myself a nest to die in; here, like some palm-tree, I shall defy the years,
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palm-tree that spreads out its roots to the river-bank, on whose leaves lodges the dew;
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my fame never diminishing, never worn out the bow I bear.
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How eagerly men hung upon my words, intent to learn what counsel I would give,
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nor ventured to speak when I had done! A gracious influence my words fell,
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like autumn rain or the spring showers on lips athirst.
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Were they faint-hearted, they found me smiling still, and the encouragement of my glance never failed them.
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Deigned I to be their leader, the first place was mine; yet ever when I sat like a king with his retinue about him, I would comfort the mourner’s tears.
