Job (The Book of )

Job again took up his discourse and said:

"Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;

when his lamp shone over my head, and by his light I walked through darkness;

when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent;

when the Almighty was still with me, when my children were around me;

when my steps were washed with milk, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

When I went out to the gate of the city, when I took my seat in the square,

the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose up and stood;

the nobles refrained from talking, and laid their hands on their mouths;

the voices of princes were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

When the ear heard, it commended me, and when the eye saw, it approved;

The blessing of the wretched came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.

I was a father to the needy, and I championed the cause of the stranger.

I broke the fangs of the unrighteous, and made them drop their prey from their teeth.

Then I thought, 'I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days like the phoenix;

my roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches;

my glory was fresh with me, and my bow ever new in my hand.'

"They listened to me, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.

After I spoke they did not speak again, and my word dropped upon them like dew.

They waited for me as for the rain; they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

I smiled on them when they had no confidence; and the light of my countenance they did not extinguish.

I chose their way, and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.