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[1] So Iob proceeded and went foorth in his parable, saying
[2] O that I were as I was in the monethes by past, and in the daies when God preserued me
[3] When his light shined vpon my head, when I went after the same light and shining, euen through the darknesse
[4] As it stoode with me when I was young, when God prospered my house
[5] When the almightie was yet with me, when my children stoode about me
[6] When my wayes ranne ouer with butter, and when the stonie rockes gaue me riuers of oyle
[7] When I went out to the gate, euen to the iudgement seate, and when I prepared my seate in the streete
[8] The young men saw me and hid them selues, and the aged arose, and stoode vp
[9] The princes left of their talking, and layed their hand to their mouth
[10] The mightie kept still their voyce, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth
[11] When the eare heard me, it blessed me: & when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me
[12] For I deliuered the poore when he cryed, and the fatherlesse, and hym that had none to helpe hym
[13] The blessing of him that was redy to perishe came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce
[14] And why? I put vpon me righteousnesse, which couered me as a garment, and equitie was my crowne
[15] I was an eye to the blinde, and a foote to the lame
[16] I was a father to the poore: and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out diligently
[17] I brake the iawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the spoyle out of his teeth
[18] Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest: and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sande
[19] For my roote was spread out by the waterside: and the deawe lay vpon my corne
[20] Myne honour encreased more and more, & my bow was euer the stronger in my hande
[21] Unto me men gaue eare, me they regarded, and with scilence they taried for my counsell
[22] After my woordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them
[23] They wayted for me as for the raine: and gaped vpon me, as [the grounde doeth to receaue] the latter shoure
[24] When I laughed, they beleued it not, & the light of my countenaunce would they not put out
[25] When I agreed vnto their way, I was the chiefe, and sate as a king with his armie about him: and when they were in heauinesse, I was their comfortour
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