¶ Iob complayneth of the prosperyte of the tyme past, sub∣tyllye reyrouynge his frendes of iniurye, bycause they sayde that Iob suffered accordynge to his destruynge.
CAPI. XXIX.
SO Iob proceded, & went forth in his cō∣municacyon, [unspec A] saynge: O that I were as I was in the monethes by paste, & in the dayes when god preserued me, when his lyght shy∣ned vpō my head, when I went after the same lyght & shynynge, euen thorow the darknes. As it stode with me, when I was yong: when God prospered my house: when the almygh∣tye was yet with me: when my chyldren stode aboute me: when my wayes ran ouer with butter, and when the stony rockes gaue me [unspec B] ryuers of oyle: when I went thorowe the ci∣tye vnto the gate, & when they set me a chayre in the strete: when the yonge men (as soone as they sawe me) hyd themselues, and when the aged arose, and stode vp vnto me: when the prynces lefte of theyr talkynge, and layde theyr haude to theyr mouth: when the mygh∣tye kepte styll theyr voyce, and when theyr tongue cleued to the rofe of theyr mouth. When all they that herde me, called me hap∣pye: and when all they that sawe me, spake good of me. For I delyuered the poore when he cryed, and so dyd I the fatherlesse, & hym that had none to helpe hym.
He that shulde haue ben loste, gaue me a [unspec C] good worde, and the wydowes herte praysed me. And why? ☞ I put vpon my ryghteous∣nesse, whiche couered me as a garment, and equite was my crowne. I was an eye vnto the blynde, and a foote to the lame, I was a father vnto the poore: and when I knew not the cause, I sought it out diligently. I brake the chawes of the vnryghteous man, and pluckte the spoyle out of his teeth. Therfore, I thought verely, that I shulde haue dyed in my nest: & that my dayes shulde haue ben as many as the sandes of the see.
For my roote was spred out by the water [unspec D] syde, and the dewe lay vpon my corne. Myne honoure encreased more and more, and my bowe was euer the stronger in my hand. Un∣to me men gaue eare, me they regarded, and with sylence they taryed for my counsay••••. Yf I had spoken, they wolde haue it none other wyse, my wordes were so well taken among them. They wayted for me as for the rayne: and gaped vpon me, as the grounde doth to receyue the latter shower, ☞ when I laugh∣ed, they knewe well it was not earnest, and this the lyght of my coūtenaunce wolde they not put out. When I agreed vnto theyr way I was the cheyfe, and sat as a Kynge with his armye aboute hym. And when they were in heuynesse, I was theyr comfortoure.