1: And Job again took up the word and said, 2: If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me! 3: When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light. 4: As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God; 5: While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me; 6: When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me. 7: When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place, 8: The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats; 9: The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths; 10: The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths. 11: For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me; 12: For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter. 13: The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart. 14: I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress. 15: I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking. 16: I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me. 17: By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away. 18: Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number; 19: My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches, 20: My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand. 21: Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions. 22: After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts; 23: They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains. 24: I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear. 25: I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
