Job’s Former Blessings

1So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,

2Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued me!

3When his light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse,

4As I was in the dayes of my youth: when Gods prouidence was vpon my tabernacle:

5When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.

6When I washed my pathes with butter, & when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle:

7When I went out to the gate, euen to the iudgement seat, and when I caused them to prepare my seate in the streete.

8The yong men saw me, & hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp.

9The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.

10The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.

11And when the eare heard me, it blessed me: and when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me.

12For I deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.

13The blessing of him that was ready to perish, came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce.

14I put on iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne.

15I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.

16I was a father vnto the poore, and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out diligently.

17I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.

18Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.

19For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.

20My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.

21Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.

22After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.

23And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.

24If I laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.

25I appoynted out their way, and did sit as chiefe, and dwelt as a King in the army, and like him that comforteth the mourners.