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1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
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2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
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3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
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4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
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5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
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6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
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7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
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8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
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9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
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10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
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11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
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12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
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13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
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14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
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15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
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16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
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17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
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18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
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19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
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20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
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21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
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22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
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23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
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24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
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25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
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- 1 And Job again took up his discourse and said,
- 2 “Oh that I were as in months gone by, As in the days when God watched over me;
- 3 When His lamp shone over my head, And by His light I walked through darkness;
- 4 As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship of God {was over my tent;
- 5 When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were around me;
- 6 When my steps were bathed in butter, And the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
- 7 “When I went out to the gate of the city, When I took my seat in the square,
- 8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the old men arose and stood.
- 9 “The princes stopped talking And put their hands on their mouths;
- 10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue stuck to their palate.
- 11 “For when the ear heard, it called me blessed, And when the eye saw, it gave witness of me,
- 12 Because I delivered the poor who cried for help, And the orphan who had no helper.
- 13 “The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, And I made the widow's heart 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 needy, And I investigated the case which I did not know.
- 17 “I broke the jaws of the wicked And snatched the prey from his teeth.
- 18 “Then I thought, 'I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand.
- 19 'My root is spread out to the waters, And dew lies all night on my branch.
- 20 'My glory is ever new with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.'
- 21 “To me they listened and waited, And kept silent for my counsel.
- 22 “After my words they did not speak again, And my speech dropped on them.
- 23 “They waited for me as for the rain, And opened their mouth as for the spring rain.
- 24 “I smiled on them when they did not believe, And the light of my face they did not cast down.
- 25 “I chose a way for them and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king among the troops, As one who comforted the mourners.
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