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[1]And Job continued and said in his parable,
[2]Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!
[3]As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.
[4]As when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.
[5]When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;
[6]when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
[7]When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.
[8]The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.
[9]And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.
[10]And they that heard me blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.
[11]For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.
[12]For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.
[13]Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.
[14]Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle.
[15]I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.
[16]I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.
[17]And I broke the jaw-teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.
[18]And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm-tree; I shall live a long while.
[19]My root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.
[20]My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand.
[21]Men heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.
[22]At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them.
[23]As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they waited for my speech.
[24]Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe it; and the light of my face has not failed.
[25]I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.
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