Job's Summary Defense
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And Job again 1took up his discourse, and said:
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"Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me,
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when his 2lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,
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when the Almighty was yet with me, when my 4children were all around me,
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When I went out to 9the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square,
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the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose and stood;
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the princes refrained from talking and 10laid their hand on their mouth;
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the voice of the nobles was hushed, and their 11tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
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When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved,
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because I 12delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him.
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13The blessing of him who was 14about to perish came upon me, and I caused 15the widow's heart to sing for joy.
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I was 18eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
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I was a father to the needy, and I searched out 19the cause of him whom I did not know.
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"Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel.
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After I spoke they did not speak again, and my word 30dropped upon them.
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I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and 33the light of my 34face they did not cast down.
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I chose their way and sat as chief, and I lived like 35a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)