1 ¶ Moreover, Job continued his parable and said,

And Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: --

2 O h, that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

Who doth make me as months past, As the days of God's preserving me?

3 w hen his lamp shone upon my head, and by its light I walked in the darkness;

In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk darkness.

4 a s I was in the days of my youth, when God was familiar in my tent;

As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God upon my tent.

5 w hen the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

When yet the Mighty One with me. Round about me -- my young ones,

6 w hen I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!

When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock with me rivulets of oil.

7 ¶ When I went out to the gate to judgment, when I had my seat prepared in the plaza!

When I go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.

8 T he young men would see me and hide themselves, and the aged would arise and stand.

Seen me have youths, and they, been hidden, And the aged have risen -- they stood up.

9 T he princes would refrain from talking and lay their hand on their mouth;

Princes have kept in words, And a hand they place on their mouth.

10 t he voice of the principals would not be noticed, and their tongue would cleave to the roof of their mouth.

The voice of leaders hath been hidden, And their tongue to the palate hath cleaved.

11 W hen the ears that heard me, called me blessed; and when the eyes that saw me, gave witness to me:

For the ear heard, and declareth me happy, And the eye hath seen, and testifieth me.

12 b ecause I delivered the poor that cried and the fatherless who had no one to help him.

For I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who hath no helper.

13 T he blessing of the one that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

The blessing of the perishing cometh on me, And the heart of the widow I cause to sing.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me as a robe; and my diadem was judgment.

Righteousness I have put on, and it clotheth me, As a robe and a diadem my justice.

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

Eyes I have been to the blind, And feet to the lame I.

16 I was a father to the needy; and the cause which I did not know I searched out.

A father I to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.

17 A nd I broke the fangs of the wicked and caused their teeth to release the prey.

And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.

18 ¶ Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

And I say, `With my nest I expire, And as the sand I multiply days.'

19 M y root is spread out by the waters, and the dew shall remain upon my branches.

My root is open unto the waters, And dew doth lodge on my branch.

20 M y glory is renewed with me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.

My honour fresh with me, And my bow in my hand is renewed.

21 T hey would hear me and wait, and keep silent at my counsel.

To me they have hearkened, Yea, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.

22 A fter my words they would not reply, but my reason dropped upon them.

After my word they change not, And on them doth my speech drop,

23 A nd they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

And they wait as rain for me, And their mouth they have opened wide for the latter rain.

24 I f I laughed at them, they did not believe it; and they did not cast down the light of my countenance.

I laugh unto them -- they give no credence, And the light of my face cause not to fall.

25 I approved their way and sat at the head and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforts the mourners.

I choose their way, and sit head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When mourners he doth comfort.