And Job continued and said in his parable,
Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!
As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.
[As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.
When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;
when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.
The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.
And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.
And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.
For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.
For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.
Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.
Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle.
I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.
I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.
And I broke the jaw-teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.
And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm-tree; I shall live a long while.
[My] root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.
My glory was fresh in me, and my bow prospered in his hand.
[Men] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.
At my word they spoke not again, and they were very glad whenever I spoke to them.
As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.
Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.
I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.