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