1. Job continued his discourse:

2. Oh, that I were in months gone by, in the days when God watched over me,

3. when his light shone upon my head and I walked with it through darkness.

4. Oh, that I were in my prime, when God's friendship blessed my home,

5. when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,

6. when milk bathed my footsteps and olive oil flowed from the rock.

7. When I went to the city gate and took up my seat in the square

8. the young men stepped aside and the old men rose to their feet;

9. the chief men dared not speak but laid their hands on their mouths;

10. the princes were silenced, their tongues stuck to the palate.

11. Whoever heard me, spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me,

12. for I rescued the poor who cried for help, the fatherless and the unassisted.

13. I was blessed by the dying man; I turned to peace the widow's pining.

14. I was wearing my honesty like a garment, my integrity was my robe and turban.

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

16. father to the needy, the stranger's advocate.

17. I broke the jaws of the wicked, and from his teeth forced out the prey.

18. I said to myself: "I will die old, my days as many as the grains of sand.

19. My roots will reach to the water; at night my branches will be wet with dew.

20. My glory will remain fresh, the bow ever strong in my grip."

21. They listened to me and waited in silence for my counsel.

22. Once I spoke they said no more, but drop by drop my words kept falling on them.

23. They waited for me as people wait for showers; they drank in my words as spring rain.

24. If I smiled at them, they did not dare believe it; not a glance of mine was lost.

25. I pointed out the way, as a leader and took a king's place among the troops. Wherever I led them, they went.





“É necessário manter o coração aberto para o Céu e aguardar, de lá, o celeste orvalho.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina