Job’s Past Was Glorious
1 And Job again took up his discussion 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 upon my head
Andby His light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the prime of my days,
When the friendshipandcounsel of God were over my tent,
5 Whenthe Almighty was still with me
And my boys were around me,
6 When my steps [through rich pastures] were washed with butterandcream [from my livestock],
And the rock poured out for me streams of oil [from my olive groves].
7 “When I went out to the gate of the city,
When I took my seat [as a city father] in the square,
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves,
The aged aroseandstood [respectfully];
9 The princes stopped talking
And put their hands on their mouths;
10 The voices of the nobles were hushed,
And their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
11 “For when an ear heard [my name mentioned], it called me happyandfortunate;
And when an eye saw [me], it testified for me [approvingly],
12 Because I rescued the poor who cried for help,
And the orphan who had no helper.
13 “The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me,
And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 “I put onrighteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was like a robe and a turban!
15 “I was eyes to the blind
And I was feet to the lame.
16 “I was a father to the needy;
I investigated the case I did not know [and assured justice].
17 “And I smashed the jaws of the wicked
And snatched the prey from his teeth.
18 “Then I said, ‘I shall die in my nest,
And I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 ‘My root is spread outandopen to the waters,
And the dew lies all night upon my branch.
20 ‘My gloryandhonor are fresh in me [being constantly renewed],
And my bow gains [ever] new strength in my hand.’
21 “They listened to me and waited
And kept silent for my counsel.
22 “After I spoke, they did not speak again,
And my speech dropped upon them [like a refreshing shower].
23 “They waited for me [and for my words] as for the rain,
And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.
24 “I smiled at them when they did not believe,
And they did not diminish the light of my face.
25 “I chose a way for them and sat as chief,
And dwelt as a king among his soldiers,
As one who comforts mourners.