[1] Job continued his poems and said, [2] "If only my life could be like it used to be, in the days when God watched over me, [3] when he made his lamp shine on my head, when I walked through the dark in his light. [4] If only I were in the prime of my life again, when God was an adviser in my tent. [5] When the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, [6] my steps were bathed in buttermilk, and the rocks poured streams of olive oil on me. [7] When I went through the city gate and took my seat in the town square, [8] young men saw me and kept out of sight. Old men stood up straight out of respect for me. [9] Princes held back their words and put their hands over their mouths. [10] The voices of nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths. [11] "Any ears that heard me blessed me. Any eyes that saw me spoke well of me, [12] because I rescued the poor who called for help and the orphans who had no one to help them. [13] I received a blessing from the dying. I made the widow's heart sing for joy. [14] I put on righteousness, and it was my clothing. I practiced justice, and it was my robe and my turban. [15] I was eyes for the blind person. I was feet for the lame person. [16] I was father to the needy. I carefully investigated cases brought by strangers. [17] I broke the teeth of the wicked person and made him drop the prey out of his mouth. [18] "I thought, 'I may die in my own house, but I will make my days as numerous as the sand. [19] My roots will grow toward the water, and dew will lie on my branches all night. [20] My power will be fresh every day, and the bow in my hand will remain new.' [21] "People listened to me eagerly, quietly waiting for my advice. [22] After I had spoken, they wouldn't speak again. After all, my words fell gently on them. [23] They were as eager to hear me as they were for rain. They opened their mouths wide as if waiting for a spring shower. [24] When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it, but the expression on my face did not change. [25] I decided how they should live. I sat as their leader. I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.
