1And Jobagaintookup his discourseand said,
2"Ohthat I were as in monthsgoneby, As in the dayswhen Godwatchedover me;
3When His lampshoneovermy head,[And] by His lightI walkedthrough darkness;
4As I was in the primeof my days,When the friendshipof God[was] overmy tent;
5When the Almightywas yetwith me, [And] my childrenwere aroundme;
6When my stepswere bathedin butter,And the rockpouredout for me streamsof oil!
7"When I wentout to the gateof the city,When I tookmy seatin the square,
8The youngmensawme and hidthemselves, And the oldmenarose[and] stood.
9"The princesstoppedtalkingAnd put[their] handson their mouths;
10The voiceof the nobleswas hushed,And their tonguestuckto their palate.
11"For when the earheard,it calledme blessed,And when the eyesaw,it gavewitnessof me,
12BecauseI deliveredthe poorwho criedfor help,And the orphanwho had nohelper.
13"The blessingof the one ready to perishcameupon me, And I made the widow'sheartsingfor joy.
14"I puton righteousness,and it clothedme; My justicewas like a robeand a turban.
15"I was eyesto the blindAnd feetto the lame.
16"I was a fatherto the needy,And I investigatedthe casewhich I did not know.
17"I brokethe jawsof the wickedAnd snatchedthe preyfrom his teeth.
18"Then I thought,'I shall diein my nest,And I shall multiply[my] daysas the sand.
19My rootis spreadout to the waters,And dewliesall nighton my branch.
20My gloryis [ever] newwith me, And my bowis renewedin my hand.'
21"To me they listenedand waited,And keptsilentfor my counsel.
22"Aftermy wordsthey did not speakagain,And my speechdroppedon them.
23"They waitedfor me as for the rain,And openedtheir mouthas for the springrain.
24"I smiledon them when they did not believe,And the lightof my facethey did not castdown.
25"I chosea wayfor them and satas chief,And dweltas a kingamong the troops,As one whocomfortedthe mourners.
