291 And Job again took up his discourse and said , 2 "Oh e that I were as in months gone by, As in the days when God watched over me; 3 When His lamp shone over my head , And by His light I walked through darkness ; 4 As I was in the prime of my days , When the friendship of God was over my tent ; 5 When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were around me; 6 When my steps were bathed in butter , And the rock poured out for me streams of oil !
7 "When I went out to the gate of the city , When I took my seat in the square , 8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the old men arose and stood . 9 "The princes stopped talking And put their hands on their mouths ; 10 The voice of the nobles was hushed , And their tongue stuck to their palate . 11 "For when the ear heard , it called me blessed , And when the eye saw , it gave witness of me, 12 Because I delivered the poor who cried for help , And the orphan who had no helper . 13 "The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, And I made the widow's heart sing for joy . 14 "I put on righteousness , and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban . 15 "I was eyes to the blind And feet to the lame . 16 "I was a father to the needy , And I investigated the case which I did not know . 17 "I broke the jaws of the wicked And snatched the prey from his teeth .
18 "Then I thought , 'I shall die in my nest , And I shall multiply my days as the sand . 19 'My root is spread out to the waters , And dew lies all night on my branch . 20 'My glory is ever new with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand .' 21 "To me they listened and waited , And kept silent for my counsel . 22 "After my words they did not speak again , And my speech dropped on them. 23 "They waited for me as for the rain , And opened their mouth as for the spring rain . 24 "I smiled on them when they did not believe , And the light of my face they did not cast down . 25 "I chose a way for them and sat as chief , And dwelt as a king among the troops , As one who comforted the mourners .
