1. Job took up his theme anew and said;

2. Oh, that I were as in the months past! as in the days when God watched over me,

3. While he kept his lamp shining above my head, and by his light I walked through darkness;

4. As I was in my flourishing days, when God sheltered my tent;

5. When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were round about me;

6. When my footsteps were bathed in milk, and the rock flowed with streams of oil;

7. When I went forth to the gate of the city and set up my seat in the square-

8. Then the young men saw me and withdrew, while the elders rose up and stood;

9. The chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;

10. The voice of the princes was silenced, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

11. Whoever heard of me blessed me; those who saw me commended me.

12. For I rescued the poor who cried out for help, the orphans, and the unassisted;

13. The blessing of those in extremity came upon me, and the heart of the widow I made joyful.

14. I wore my honesty like a garment; justice was my robe and my turban.

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

16. I was a father to the needy; the rights of the stranger I studied,

17. And I broke the jaws of the wicked man; from his teeth I forced the prey.

18. Then I said: "In my own nest I shall grow old; I shall multiply years like the phoenix.

19. My root is spread out to the waters; the dew rests by night on my branches.

20. My glory is fresh within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand!"

21. For me they listened and waited; they were silent for my counsel.

22. Once I spoke, they said no more, but received my pronouncement drop by drop.

23. They waited for me as for the rain; they drank in my words like the spring rains.

24. When I smiled on them they were reassured;

25. mourners took comfort from my cheerful glance. I chose out their way and presided; I took a king's place in the armed forces.





“O Anjo de Deus não nos abandona jamais.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina