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¹ And Job continued and said in his parable, ² Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me! ³ As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness. ⁴ As when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house. ⁵ When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me; ⁶ when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.

⁷ When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets. ⁸ The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up. ⁹ And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth. ¹⁰ And they that heard me blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat. ¹¹ For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside. ¹² For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper. ¹³ Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me. ¹⁴ Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle. ¹⁵ I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame. ¹⁶ I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not. ¹⁷ And I broke the jaw-teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.

¹⁸ And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm-tree; I shall live a long while. ¹⁹ My root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop. ²⁰ My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand. ²¹ Men heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel. ²² At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them. ²³ As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they waited for my speech. ²⁴ Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe it; and the light of my face has not failed. ²⁵ I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.