1 Job again took up his discourse and said:2 "Oh, that I were as in the months of old, 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 when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent;5 when the Almighty was still with me, when my children were around me;6 when my steps were washed with milk, 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 withdrew, and the aged rose up and stood;9 the nobles refrained from talking, and laid their hands on their mouths;10 the voices of princes were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.11 When the ear heard, it commended me, and when the eye saw, it approved;12 because I delivered the poor who cried, and the orphan who had no helper.13 The blessing of the wretched came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to 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 championed the cause of the stranger.17 I broke the fangs of the unrighteous, and made them drop their prey from their teeth.18 Then I thought, 'I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days like the phoenix;19 my roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches;20 my glory was fresh with me, and my bow ever new in my hand.'21 "They listened to me, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.22 After I spoke they did not speak again, and my word dropped upon them like dew.23 They waited for me as for the rain; they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence; and the light of my countenance they did not extinguish.25 I chose their way, and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.