Oh that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me;
When his lamp shined upon my head, And by his light I walked through darkness;
As I was in the ripeness of my days, When the friendship of God was upon my tent;
When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were about me;
When my steps were washed with butter, And the rock poured me out streams of oil!
If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gotten much;
Let all the earth fear Jehovah: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; (For) so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.