1 Job took up his theme again and said:
2 Oh, that I were as in the months past,as in the days when God watched over me:
3 While he kept his lamp shining above my head,and by his light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in my flourishing days,when God sheltered my tent;
5 When the Almighty was still with me,and my children were round about me;
6 When my footsteps were bathed in cream,and the rock flowed with streams of oil.
7 Whenever I went out to the gate of the cityand took my seat in the square,
8 The young men saw me and withdrew,and the elders rose up and stood;
9 Officials refrained from speakingand covered their mouths with their hands;
10 The voice of the princes was silenced,and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11 The ear that heard blessed me;the eye that saw acclaimed me.
12 For I rescued the poor who cried out for help,the orphans, and the unassisted;
13 The blessing of those in extremity came upon me,and the heart of the widow I made joyful.
14 I wore my righteousness like a garment;justice was my robe and my turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind,and feet to the lame was I.
16 I was a father to the poor;the complaint of the stranger I pursued,
17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked man;from his teeth I forced the prey.
18 I said: “In my own nest I shall grow old;I shall multiply years like the phoenix.
19 My root is spread out to the waters;the dew rests by night on my branches.
20 My glory is fresh within me,and my bow is renewed in my hand!”
21 For me they listened and waited;they were silent for my counsel.
22 Once I spoke, they said no more,but received my pronouncement drop by drop.
23 They waited for me as for the rain;they drank in my words like the spring rains.
24 When I smiled on them they could not believe it;they would not let the light of my face be dimmed.
25 I decided their course and sat at their head,I lived like a king among the troops,like one who comforts mourners.