Job’s previous blessing

¹ Job took up his subject again:

² Oh, that life was like it used to be, like days when God watched over me;

³ when his lamp shone on my head, I walked by his light in the dark;

⁴ when I was in my prime; when God’s counsel was in my tent;

⁵ when the Almighty was with me, my children around me;

Previous honor

⁶ when my steps were washed with cream and a rock poured out pools of oil for me.

⁷ When I went out to the city gate, took my seat in the square,

⁸ the young saw me and drew back; the old rose and stood;

⁹ princes restrained speech, put their hand on their mouth;

Job’s implementation of justice

¹⁰ the voices of officials were hushed, their tongue stuck to their palate.

¹¹ Indeed, the ear that heard blessed me; the eye that looked commended me,

¹² because I rescued the weak who cried out, the orphans who lacked help.

¹³ The blessing of the perishing reached me; I made the widow’s heart sing;

¹⁴ I put on justice, and it clothed me, righteousness as my coat and turban;

¹⁵ I was eyes to the blind, feet to the lame.

¹⁶ I was a father to the needy; the case I didn’t know, I examined.

Job’s expected blessing

¹⁷ I shattered the fangs of the wicked, rescued prey from their teeth.

¹⁸ I thought, I’ll die in my nest, multiply days like sand,

¹⁹ my roots opening to water, dew lingering on my branches,

Previous honor

²⁰ my honor newly with me, my bow ever successful in my hand.

²¹ People listened to me and waited, were silent for my advice.

²² After my speech, they didn’t respond. My words fell gently on them;

²³ they waited for me as for rain, opened their mouth as for spring rain.

²⁴ I smiled on them; they couldn’t believe it. They never showed me disfavor.

²⁵ I decided their path, sat as chief. I lived like a king with his troops, like one who comforts mourners.