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

And 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?

Who 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.

In 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.

As 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,

When 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.

When 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.

When 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.

Seen 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.

Princes 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.

The 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.

For 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.

For 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.

The 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.

Righteousness 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.

Eyes 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.

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.

And 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.'

And 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.

My 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.

My 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.

To 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,

After 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.

And 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.

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.

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