1 M oreover Job continued his parable, and said,

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

3 W hen his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

4 A s I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

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

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

7 W hen I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

8 T he young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

9 T he princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

10 T he nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 W hen the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

12 B ecause I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

13 T he 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 A nd I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

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

19 M y root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

20 M y glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

21 U nto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.

22 A fter my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

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

24 I f I laughed on them, they believed it not; 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.