^{1 Ref} And Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: --

^{2 Ref} Who doth make me as `in' months past, As `in' the days of God's preserving me?

^{3 Ref} In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk `through' darkness.

^{4 Ref} As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God upon my tent.

^{5 Ref} When yet the Mighty One `is' with me. Round about me -- my young ones,

^{6 Ref} When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock `is' with me rivulets of oil.

^{7 Ref} When I go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.

^{8 Ref} Seen me have youths, and they, been hidden, And the aged have risen -- they stood up.

^{9 Ref} Princes have kept in words, And a hand they place on their mouth.

^{10 Ref} The voice of leaders hath been hidden, And their tongue to the palate hath cleaved.

^{11 Ref} For the ear heard, and declareth me happy, And the eye hath seen, and testifieth `to' me.

^{12 Ref} For I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who hath no helper.

^{13 Ref} The blessing of the perishing cometh on me, And the heart of the widow I cause to sing.

^{14 Ref} Righteousness I have put on, and it clotheth me, As a robe and a diadem my justice.

^{15 Ref} Eyes I have been to the blind, And feet to the lame `am' I.

^{16 Ref} A father I `am' to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.

^{17 Ref} And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.

^{18 Ref} And I say, `With my nest I expire, And as the sand I multiply days.'

^{19 Ref} My root is open unto the waters, And dew doth lodge on my branch.

^{20 Ref} My honour `is' fresh with me, And my bow in my hand is renewed.

^{21 Ref} To me they have hearkened, Yea, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.

^{22 Ref} After my word they change not, And on them doth my speech drop,

^{23 Ref} And they wait as `for' rain for me, And their mouth they have opened wide `As' for the latter rain.

^{24 Ref} I laugh unto them -- they give no credence, And the light of my face cause not to fall.

^{25 Ref} I choose their way, and sit head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When mourners he doth comfort.