Job Finishes His Defence

1Job again took up his discourse and said:

2‘O that I were as in the months of old,

as in the days when God watched over me;

3when his lamp shone over my head,

and by his light I walked through darkness;

4when I was in my prime,

when the friendship of God was upon my tent;

5when the Almighty29.5 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai was still with me,

when my children were around me;

6when my steps were washed with milk,

and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

7When I went out to the gate of the city,

when I took my seat in the square,

8the young men saw me and withdrew,

and the aged rose up and stood;

9the nobles refrained from talking,

and laid their hands on their mouths;

10the voices of princes were hushed,

and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11When the ear heard, it commended me,

and when the eye saw, it approved;

12because I delivered the poor who cried,

and the orphan who had no helper.

13The blessing of the wretched came upon me,

and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

my justice was like a robe and a turban.

15I was eyes to the blind,

and feet to the lame.

16I was a father to the needy,

and I championed the cause of the stranger.

17I broke the fangs of the unrighteous,

and made them drop their prey from their teeth.

18Then I thought, “I shall die in my nest,

and I shall multiply my days like the phoenix;29.18 Or like sand

19my roots spread out to the waters,

with the dew all night on my branches;

20my 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.

22After I spoke they did not speak again,

and my word dropped upon them like dew.29.22 Heb lacks like dew

23They waited for me as for the rain;

they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

24I smiled on them when they had no confidence;

and the light of my countenance they did not extinguish.29.24 Meaning of Heb uncertain

25I chose their way, and sat as chief,

and I lived like a king among his troops,

like one who comforts mourners.