WeBible

1 - And Job again took up the word and said,

2 - If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!

3 - When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.

4 - As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;

5 - While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;

6 - When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.

7 - When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,

8 - The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;

9 - The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;

10 - The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.

11 - For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;

12 - For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.

13 - The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.

14 - I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.

15 - I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.

16 - I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.

17 - By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.

18 - Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;

19 - My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,

20 - My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.

21 - Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.

22 - After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;

23 - They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.

24 - I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.

25 - I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...