Job

 2 “O that I were as in the lunar months of long ago,+

As in the days when God* was guarding me;+

 3 When he caused his lamp to shine upon my head,

[When] I would walk [through] darkness by his light;+

 4 Just as I happened to be in the days of my prime,+

When intimacy with God was at my tent;+

 5 When the Almighty was yet with me,

[When] my attendants were all around me!

 6 When I washed my steps in butter,

And the rock kept pouring out streams of oil for me;*+

 7 When I went forth to the gate by the town,+

In the public square I would prepare my seat!+

 8 The boys saw me and hid themselves,

And even the aged ones rose up, they stood.+

 9 Princes themselves restrained words,

And the palm they would put upon their mouth.+

10 The voice of the leaders themselves was hidden,

And their very tongue cleaved to their palate.+

11 For the ear itself listened and proceeded to pronounce me happy,

And the eye itself saw and proceeded to bear witness for me.

12 For I would rescue the afflicted one crying for help,+

And the fatherless boy and anyone that had no helper.+

13 The blessing+ of the one about to perish—upon me it would come,

And the heart of the widow I would make glad.+

14 With righteousness I clothed myself, and it was clothing me.+

My justice was like a sleeveless coat—and a turban.

15 Eyes I became to the blind one;+

And feet to the lame one I was.

16 I was a real father to the poor ones;+

And the legal case of one whom I did not know—I would examine it.+

17 And I would break the jawbones of the wrongdoer,+

And from his teeth I would tear* away the prey.

18 And I used to say, ‘Within my nest* I shall expire,+

And like the grains of sand I shall multiply [my] days.+

19 My root is opened for the waters,+

And dew itself will stay overnight upon my bough.

20 My glory is fresh with me,

And my bow in my hand will shoot repeatedly.’

21 To me they listened; and they waited,

And they would keep silent for my counsel.+

22 After my word they would not speak again,

And upon them my word would drip.+

23 And they waited for me as for the rain,+

And their mouth they opened wide for the spring rain.+

24 I would smile at them—they would not believe [it]—

And the light of my face+ they would not cast down.

25 I would choose the way for them, and I was sitting as head;

And I resided as a king among [his] troops,+

As one who comforts the mourners.+