³ “In the past you have encouraged many people;
    you have strengthened those who were weak.
⁴ Your words have supported those who were falling;
    you encouraged those with shaky knees.
⁵ But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart.
    You are terrified when it touches you.
⁶ Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence?
    Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?

¹¹ “All who heard me praised me.
    All who saw me spoke well of me.
¹² For I assisted the poor in their need
    and the orphans who required help.
¹³ I helped those without hope, and they blessed me.
    And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
¹⁴ Everything I did was honest.
    Righteousness covered me like a robe,
    and I wore justice like a turban.
¹⁵ I served as eyes for the blind
    and feet for the lame.
¹⁶ I was a father to the poor
    and assisted strangers who needed help.
¹⁷ I broke the jaws of godless oppressors
    and plucked their victims from their teeth.