1 A nd Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: --

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

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

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

5 W hen yet the Mighty One with me. Round about me -- my young ones,

6 W hen washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock with me rivulets of oil.

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

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

9 P rinces have kept in words, And a hand they place on their mouth.

10 T he voice of leaders hath been hidden, And their tongue to the palate hath cleaved.

11 F or the ear heard, and declareth me happy, And the eye hath seen, and testifieth me.

12 F or I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who hath no helper.

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

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

15 E yes I have been to the blind, And feet to the lame I.

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

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

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

19 M y root is open unto the waters, And dew doth lodge on my branch.

20 M y honour fresh with me, And my bow in my hand is renewed.

21 T o me they have hearkened, Yea, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.

22 A fter my word they change not, And on them doth my speech drop,

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

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

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