When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

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

16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

Read full chapter

“When I went to the gate(A) of the city
    and took my seat in the public square,
the young men saw me and stepped aside(B)
    and the old men rose to their feet;(C)
the chief men refrained from speaking(D)
    and covered their mouths with their hands;(E)
10 the voices of the nobles were hushed,(F)
    and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.(G)
11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me,
    and those who saw me commended me,(H)
12 because I rescued the poor(I) who cried for help,
    and the fatherless(J) who had none to assist them.(K)
13 The one who was dying blessed me;(L)
    I made the widow’s(M) heart sing.
14 I put on righteousness(N) as my clothing;
    justice was my robe and my turban.(O)
15 I was eyes(P) to the blind
    and feet to the lame.(Q)
16 I was a father to the needy;(R)
    I took up the case(S) of the stranger.(T)
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked
    and snatched the victims(U) from their teeth.(V)

Read full chapter