1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, continued: Heb. added to take up
2 O that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
3 When his lamp shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; candle: or, lamp
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tent;
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; me: Heb. with me
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 stopped talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. The nobles…: Heb. The voice of the nobles was hid
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 broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the prey out of his teeth. the jaws: Heb. the jawteeth, or, the grindersplucked: Heb. cast
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. spread…: Heb. opened
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. fresh: Heb. newrenewed: Heb. changed
21 To me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22 After my words they spoke not again; and my speech fell 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 mocked at them, they had no confidence; 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.