1 JOB UTTERED THESE WORDS:
2 禄Oh, that I were as in months past, 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 禄I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent.
5 The Almighty was still with me, and my children were all around me.
6 禄My steps were washed with milk and the rock poured out streams of oil for me!
7 禄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 withdrew, and the aged rose up and stood.
9 禄The nobles refrained from talking, and laid their hands on their mouths.
10 禄The voices of princes were hushed. Their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
11 禄When the ear heard, it commended me, and when the eye saw, it approved.
12 禄This is because I delivered the poor who cried, and the orphan who had no helper.
13 禄The blessing of the wretched came upon me. I caused the widow聮s heart to sing for joy.
14 禄I put on righteousness and it clothed me. My justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 禄I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
16 禄I was a father to the needy! I championed the cause of the stranger.
17 禄I broke the fangs of the unrighteous. I made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 禄Then I thought: I shall die in my nest house, and I shall multiply my days like the grains of sand.
19 禄My roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches.
20 禄My glory was fresh within me, and my bow ever new in my hand.
21 禄They listened to me, and waited! They kept quiet to hear my counsel.
22 禄After I spoke they did not speak again, and my word dropped upon them like dew.
23 禄They waited for me as for the rain. They opened their mouths as for the spring rain.
24 禄I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They did not extinguish the light of my countenance.
25 禄I chose their way, and sat as chief. I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.