Job's Former Blessings
1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
3When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
4As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
5When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
6When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
8The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
9The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
18Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
23And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Job’s Former Blessings
1 Job again took up his parable, 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 on my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,
4 as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was in my tent,
5 when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
6 when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
7 when I went forth to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
9 The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it commended me:
12 Because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had none to help him,
13 the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy. The cause of him who I didn’t know, I searched out.
17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
18 Then I said, ‘I shall die in my own house, I shall number my days as the sand.
19 My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
20 My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 “Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
22 After my words they didn’t speak again. My speech fell on them.
23 They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.
25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
Job’s Former Blessings
1 And Job continued his discourse:
2 “How I long for the months gone by,
for the days when God watched over me,
3 when His lamp shone above my head,
and by His light I walked through the darkness,
4 when I was in my prime, a
when the friendship of God rested on my tent,
5 when the Almighty was still with me
and my children were around me,
6 when my steps were bathed in cream
and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 When I went out to the city gate
and took my seat in the public square,
8 the young men saw me and withdrew,
and the old men rose to their feet.
9 The princes refrained from speaking
and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 The voices of the nobles were hushed,
and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11 For those who heard me called me blessed,
and those who saw me commended me,
12 because I rescued the poor who cried out
and the fatherless who had no helper.
13 The dying man blessed me,
and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
justice was my robe and my turban.
15 I served as eyes to the blind
and as feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy,
and I took up the case of the stranger.
17 I shattered the fangs of the unjust
and snatched the prey from his teeth.
18 So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest
and multiply my days as the sand.
19 My roots will spread out to the waters,
and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.
20 My glory is ever new within me,
and my bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 Men listened to me with expectation,
waiting silently for my counsel.
22 After my words, they spoke no more;
my speech settled on them like dew.
23 They waited for me as for rain
and drank in my words like spring showers.
24 If I smiled at them, they did not believe it;
the light of my countenance was precious.
25 I chose their course and presided as chief.
So I dwelt as a king among his troops,
as a comforter of the mourners.
Footnotes:
4 a Hebrew in the time of my harvest
Job's Former Blessings
1And Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: --
2Who doth make me as in months past, As in the days of God's preserving me?
3In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk through darkness.
4As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God upon my tent.
5When yet the Mighty One is with me. Round about me -- my young ones,
6When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock is with me rivulets of oil.
7When I go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.
8Seen me have youths, and they, been hidden, And the aged have risen -- they stood up.
9Princes have kept in words, And a hand they place on their mouth.
10The voice of leaders hath been hidden, And their tongue to the palate hath cleaved.
11For the ear heard, and declareth me happy, And the eye hath seen, and testifieth to me.
12For I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who hath no helper.
13The blessing of the perishing cometh on me, And the heart of the widow I cause to sing.
14Righteousness I have put on, and it clotheth me, As a robe and a diadem my justice.
15Eyes I have been to the blind, And feet to the lame am I.
16A father I am to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.
17And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.
18And I say, 'With my nest I expire, And as the sand I multiply days.'
19My root is open unto the waters, And dew doth lodge on my branch.
20My honour is fresh with me, And my bow in my hand is renewed.
21To me they have hearkened, Yea, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.
22After my word they change not, And on them doth my speech drop,
23And they wait as for rain for me, And their mouth they have opened wide As for the latter rain.
24I laugh unto them -- they give no credence, And the light of my face cause not to fall.
25I choose their way, and sit head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When mourners he doth comfort.
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