Job

2 “Would that I were as in old-time months,

as in the days when God watched over me,

3 When he let his lamp beam over my head

and by his light I walked through darkness!

4* As I was in my days of ripeness,

when God had a fence round my home,

5 When Shaddai was still with me,

my boys were around me,

6* When my callers washed their dust off in clabber

and rocks on my grounds poured rills of oil.

7* When I went out of gate to town,

prepared to take my seat in the square,

8 Young men saw me and hid

and graybeards rose and stood;

9 Captains checked what they had to say

and laid hand on their mouths;

10* Magistrates’ voices hid

and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11 For ears heard and deemed me happy,

eyes saw and bore witness to me,

12 That I brought a downtrodden suppliant out of trouble,

and an orphan, and one whom none would help;

13 The blessing of one who was perishing came upon me

and I set a widow’s heart caroling.

14** I clothed myself in right,

and like a robe and tiara justice clothed me.

15 I was eyes for the blind man,

and feet for the lame man was I.

16 I was a father to the needy,

and investigated the claims of the man I did not know

17 And smashed a knave’s fangs

and knocked prey out of his teeth.

18** And I thought I should breathe my last with my nestlings

and have my days as numerous as the sand,

19 With my roots spreading out to water

and dew on my twigs through the night,

20 My honors fresh about me

and my bow coming new in my hand.

21 They listened for me and waited,

kept still to get my advice;

22 After my word they did not speak again,

and my discourse came sprinkling down on them.

23 They waited for me as if for rain

and held their mouths wide open for a spring shower.

24* I gave them a laugh, they did not believe;

and my face shone, they did not let theirs fall.

25 I chose their course and sat as head,

and lived like a king in a raiding-party,

as if he were comforting mourners.