Job's Final Statement of His Case
1 Job began speaking again.
Job
2 If only my life could once again
be as it was when God watched over me.
3 God was always with me then
and gave me light as I walked through the darkness.
4 Those were the days when I was prosperous,
and the friendship of God protected my home.
5 Almighty God was with me then,
and I was surrounded by all my children.
6 My cows and goats gave plenty of milk,
and my olive trees grew in the rockiest soil.
7 Whenever the city elders met
and I took my place among them,
8 young men stepped aside as soon as they saw me,
and old men stood up to show me respect.
9 The leaders of the people would stop talking;
10 even the most important men kept silent.
11 Everyone who saw me or heard of me
had good things to say about what I had done.
12 When the poor cried out, I helped them;
I gave help to orphans who had nowhere to turn.
13 People who were in deepest misery praised me,
and I helped widows find security.
14 I have always acted justly and fairly.
15 I was eyes for the blind,
and feet for the lame.
16 I was like a father to the poor
and took the side of strangers in trouble.
17 I destroyed the power of cruel men
and rescued their victims.
18 I always expected to live a long life
and to die at home in comfort.
19 I was like a tree whose roots always have water
and whose branches are wet with dew.
20 Everyone was always praising me,
and my strength never failed me.
21 When I gave advice, people were silent
and listened carefully to what I said;
22 they had nothing to add when I had finished.
My words sank in like drops of rain;
23 everyone welcomed them
just as farmers welcome rain in spring.
24 I smiled on them when they had lost confidence;
my cheerful face encouraged them.
25 I took charge and made the decisions;
I led them as a king leads his troops,
and gave them comfort in their despair.
1 So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying, 2 Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued me! 3 When his light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse, 4 As I was in the dayes of my youth: when Gods prouidence was vpon my tabernacle: 5 When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me. 6 When I washed my pathes with butter, and when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle: 7 When I went out to the gate, euen to the iudgement seat, and when I caused them to prepare my seate in the streete. 8 The yong men saw me, and hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp. 9 The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth. 10 The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth. 11 And when the eare heard me, it blessed me: and when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me. 12 For I deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him. 13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish, came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce. 14 I put on iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne. 15 I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame. 16 I was a father vnto the poore, and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out diligently. 17 I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth. 18 Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand. 19 For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche. 20 My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand. 21 Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell. 22 After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them. 23 And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne. 24 If I laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall. 25 I appoynted out their way, and did sit as chiefe, and dwelt as a King in the army, and like him that comforteth the mourners.