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18 I always expected to live a long life
    and to die at home in comfort.
19 I was like a tree whose roots always have water
    and whose branches are wet with dew.
20 Everyone was always praising me,
    and my strength never failed me.

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18 Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest,
    and I shall multiply my days like the phoenix;[a](A)
19 my roots spread out to the waters,
    with the dew all night on my branches;(B)
20 my glory was fresh with me
    and my bow ever new in my hand.’(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 29.18 Or like sand

18 And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm tree shall multiply my days.

19 My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.

20 My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.

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7-20 “When I walked downtown
    and sat with my friends in the public square,
Young and old greeted me with respect;
    I was honored by everyone in town.
When I spoke, everyone listened;
    they hung on my every word.
People who knew me spoke well of me;
    my reputation went ahead of me.
I was known for helping people in trouble
    and standing up for those who were down on their luck.
The dying blessed me,
    and the bereaved were cheered by my visits.
All my dealings with people were good.
    I was known for being fair to everyone I met.
I was eyes to the blind
    and feet to the lame,
Father to the needy,
    and champion of abused aliens.
I grabbed street thieves by the scruff of the neck
    and made them give back what they’d stolen.
I thought, ‘I’ll die peacefully in my own bed,
    grateful for a long and full life,
A life deep-rooted and well-watered,
    a life limber and dew-fresh,
My soul soaked through with glory
    and my body robust until the day I die.’

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