1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and
said,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the
days when God
preserved me;
3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by
his light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon
my tabernacle;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my
children were about
me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me
out rivers of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I
prepared my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged
arose, and stood
up.
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand
on their mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the
roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when
the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless,
and him that had none
to help him.
13 The blessing of him that was ready 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 judgment was as a
robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to
the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I
knew not I searched out.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil
out of his teeth.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days
as the sand.
19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew
lay all night upon my branch.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in
my hand.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence
at my counsel.
22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped
upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened
their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not;
and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in
the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
