1And Job again took up his parable , and said, 2Oh that I were as in the months of old , As in the days when God watched over me ; 3When his lamp shined upon my head , And by his light I walked through darkness ; 4As I was in the ripeness of my days , When the friendship of God was upon my tent; 5When the Almighty was yet with me , And my children were about me ; 6When my steps were washed with butter , And the rock poured me out streams of oil ! 7When I went forth to the gate unto the city , When I prepared my seat in the street , 8The young men saw me and hid themselves , And the aged rose up and stood ; 9The princes refrained from talking , And laid their hand on their mouth ; 10The voice of the nobles was hushed , And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth .
Job's Integrity and Righteousness
11For when the ear heard me , then it blessed me ; And when the eye saw me , it gave witness unto me : 12Because I delivered the poor that cried , The fatherless also , 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 sing for joy . 14I put on righteousness , and it clothed me : My justice was as a robe and a diadem . 15I was eyes to the blind , And feet was I to the lame . 16I was a father to the needy: And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out . 17And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous , 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 : 19My root is spread out to the waters , And the dew lieth all night upon my branch : 20My glory is fresh in me , And my bow is renewed in my hand .
Job's Desire for Restoration
21Unto me men gave ear , and waited , And kept silence for my counsel . 22After my words they spake not again ; And my speech distilled upon them . 23And they waited for me as for the rain ; And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain . 24I smiled on them , when they had no confidence; And the light of my countenance they cast not down . 25I chose out their way , and sat as chief , And dwelt as a king in the army , As one that comforteth the mourners.