1So Job proceeded, and continued his parable, saying,
2Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserved me!
3When his light shined upon mine head: and when by his light I walked through the darkness,
4As I was in the days of my youth: when God’s providence was upon my tabernacle:
5When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children round about me:
6when I washed my paths with butter, and when the rock poured me out rivers of oil:
7When I went out to the gate, even to the judgment seat, and when I caused them to prepare my seat in the street.
8The young men saw me, and hid themselves, and the aged arose, and stood up.
9The princes stayed talk, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10The voice of princes was hid, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11And when the ear heard me, it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me.
12For I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13The blessing of him that was ready to perish, came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to rejoice.
14I put on justice, and it covered me: my judgment was as a robe, and a crown.
15I was the eyes to the blind, and I was the feet to the lame.
16I was a father unto the poor, and when I knew not the cause, I sought it out diligently.
17I brake also the jaws of the unrighteous man, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
18Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19For my root is spread out by the water, and the dew shall lie upon my branch.
20My glory shall renew toward me, and my bow shall be restored in mine hand.
21Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and held their tongue at my counsel.
22After my words they replied not, and my talk dropped upon them.
23And they waited for me, as for the rain, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rain.
24If I laughed on them, they believed it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
25I appointed out their way, and did sit as chief, and dwelt as a King in the army, and like him that comforteth the mourners.