1. Job continued to speak. He said,
2. "How I long for the good old days! That's when God watched over me.
3. The light of his lamp shone on me. I walked through darkness by his light.
4. Those were the best days of my life. That's when God's friendship blessed my house.
5. The Mighty One was still with me. My children were all around me.
6. The path in front of me was like sweet cream. It was as if the rock poured out olive oil for me.
7. "In those days I went to the city gate. I took my seat as a member of the council.
8. Young people who saw me stepped to one side. Old people stood up as I approached.
9. The leaders stopped speaking. They covered their mouths with their hands.
10. The voices of the nobles became quiet. Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11. Everyone who heard me said good things about me. Those who saw me honored me.
12. That's because I saved poor people who cried out for help. I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.