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