Moreover Iyyov continued his discourse, and said,

And Iyyov resumed — raising his voice in parable — and he said:

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

Would that I were as in the months of yore [(of my greatness)], as in the days when G d watched over me.

when his candle shone upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

When His lamp shone above my head, when I went by His light in the darkness [(that afflicted mankind)].

as I was in the days of my youth, when God shielded my tent;

As I was in my early days, when [the righteous men of the generation came] to my tent to take counsel in the words of G d [(and in the "fences" thereto required by the times)].

when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

When the Almighty was still with me, and my young men [(my attendants)] all around me.

when I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

When my feet were washed in butter and a rock by my side streamed forth [(all manner of delights)] like rivulets of oil.

when I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the broad place!

When I went out to the gate on the eminence [(where the elders of the city used to sit)]; when I prepared my seat in the thoroughfare,

The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

the youths saw me and hid themselves, and the old men rose and remained standing [before me].

The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

Princes stifled their speech [(waiting for me to begin)] and put a palm to their mouths.

The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

The voice of dignitaries was hidden, and their tongue stuck to their palate.

When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me;

For the ear that heard [my words] would commend me, and the eye that saw [everywhere my greatness and righteousness] would testify for me.

because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, that had none to help him.

For I would deliver the pauper from [his] outcries and the orphan bereft of help.

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

The blessing of the lost one was bestowed upon me [(for I supported his wife and children)] and I brought joy to the widow's heart [(by allying myself with her)].

I put on righteousness, and my justice clothed me, as a robe and a diadem.

I clothed myself in righteousness [i.e., I pursued it], and it "clothed" me. My judgment was as ["comely" as] a cloak and a turban.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

I was the eyes of the blind and the feet of the lame.

I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

I was father to the poor, and I searched out the truth of a dispute [(the full facts of which)] I did not know.

And I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

I broke the teeth of the wicked one and cast the prey from his teeth.

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days like the sand.

And I said [(that because of my righteousness)] I would die along with my habitation and that I would increase days like the phoenix.

My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew shall lie all night upon my branch.

[I said that] my root would be open to the water [(and would not die)] and that dew would rest upon my shoots.

My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow shall be renewed in my hand.

[I said that] my honor would be renewed for me; the strength of my hand [(for good)] I would [constantly] be reinvigorated.

To me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.

[Men] paid heed to me and hoped [(for the realization of my words)] and they were silent [in acquiescence] at my counsel.

After my words they did not speak again; and my speech dropped upon them.

After my word they did not repeat [(the seeking of counsel)] and my word would drip [(like prophecy)] upon them.

And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

They waited upon my words as for rain and opened their mouths [(in prodigal speech) only] afterwards.

If I laughed at them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

When I laughed with them they did not believe it [(because of their reverence for me)], and [(in awe of me)] they would not venture to approach the light of my countenance.

I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforts the mourners.

I would choose their ways [(for them at their solicitation)] and I would sit at their head and dwell among them as a king among his troops, [and I would be to them] as one [(the leader of the company)] who consoles the mourners.