[1] And Job again took up his discourse, and said: [2] "Oh, that I were as
in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me; [3] when his
lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness; [4] as
I was in my autumn days, when the friendship of God was upon my tent; [5]
when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; [6] when
my steps were washed with milk, and the rock poured out for me streams of
oil! [7] When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat
in the square, [8] the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose and
stood; [9] the princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their
mouth; [10] the voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to
the roof of their mouth. [11] When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and
when the eye saw, it approved; [12] because I delivered the poor who cried,
and the fatherless who had none to help him. [13] The blessing of him who
was about 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 justice was
like a robe and a turban. [15] I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the
lame. [16] I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the cause of him
whom I did not know. [17] I broke the fangs of the unrighteous, and made
him drop his prey from his teeth. [18] Then I thought, `en I thought, "I
shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand, [19] my
roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches, [20]
my glory fresh with me, and my bow ever new in my hand.' [21] "Men listened
to me, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel. [22] After I spoke they
did not speak again, and my word dropped upon them. [23] They waited for me
as for the rain; and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain. [24]
I smiled on them when they had no confidence; and the light of my
countenance they did not cast down. [25] I chose their way, and sat as
chief, and I dwelt like a king among his troops, like one who comforts
mourners.