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Moreover Job continued his parable and said
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Oh that I were as in months past as in the days when God preserved me
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When his candle shined upon my head and when by his light I walked through darkness
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As I was in the days of my youth when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle
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When the Almighty was yet with me when my children were about me
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When I washed my steps with butter and the rock poured me out rivers of oil
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When I went out to the gate through the city when I prepared my seat in the street
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The young men saw me and hid themselves and the aged arose and stood up
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The princes refrained talking and laid their hand on their mouth
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The nobles held their peace and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth
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When the ear heard me then it blessed me and when the eye saw me it gave witness to me
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Because I delivered the poor that cried and the fatherless and him that had none to help him
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The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy
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I put on righteousness and it clothed me my judgment was as a robe and a diadem
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I was eyes to the blind and feet was I to the lame
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I was a father to the poor and the cause which I knew not I searched out
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And I brake the jaws of the wicked and plucked the spoil out of his teeth
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Then I said I shall die in my nest and I shall multiply my days as the sand
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My root was spread out by the waters and the dew lay all night upon my branch
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My glory was fresh in me and my bow was renewed in my hand
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Unto me men gave ear and waited and kept silence at my counsel
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After my words they spake not again and my speech dropped upon them
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And they waited for me as for the rain and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain
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If I laughed on them they believed it not and the light of my countenance they cast not down
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I chose out their way and sat chief and dwelt as a king in the army as one that comforteth the mourners