[1] 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] Just as I was in the days of my youth, When the protection of God was over my tent; [5] When the Almighty was still with me, And my children were around me; [6] When my steps were bathed in cream, And the rock poured out streams of oil for me! [7] “When I went out to the gate of the city, When I took my seat in the public square, [8] The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the old men arose and stood. [9] “The leaders stopped talking And put their hands on their mouths; [10] The voices of the prominent people were hushed, And their tongues stuck to their palates. [11] “For when an ear heard, it called me blessed, And when an eye saw, it testified in support of me, [12] Because I saved the poor who cried for help, And the orphan who had no helper. [13] “The blessing of the one who was about 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 headband. [15] “I was eyes to those who were blind, And feet to those who could not walk. [16] “I was a father to the poor, And I investigated the case which I did not know. [17] “I broke the jaws of the wicked And rescued the prey from his teeth. [18] “Then I thought, ‘I will die with my family, And I will multiply my days as the sand. [19] ‘My root is spread out to the waters, And dew lies on my branch all night. [20] ‘My glory is ever new with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.’ [21] “To me they listened and waited, And they kept silent for my advice. [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 mouths as for the late rain. [24] “I smiled at them when they did not believe, And they did not look at my kindness ungraciously. [25] “I chose a way for them and sat as chief, And lived as a king among the troops, As one who comforted the mourners.
