1And Job again took up his parable, and said, 2O that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, 3when his lamp shone 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 sons were about me, 6when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil to me, 7when I went forth to the gate to 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 rulers refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. 10The voice of the ranking men was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth. 11For when the ear heard [me], then it blessed me, and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me. 12Because I delivered the poor who cried, also the fatherless who had none to help him. 13The blessing of him who 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 I was feet to the lame. 16I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the case of him whom I did not know. 17And I broke 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 lays all night upon my branch. 20My glory is fresh in me, and my bow is renewed in my hand. 21To me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel. 22After my words they spoke 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 they did not cast down the light of my countenance. 25I chose out their way, and sat [as] chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as a man who comforts the mourners.