⁷ “When I went to the gate^(A) of the city
    and took my seat in the public square,
⁸ the young men saw me and stepped aside^(B)
    and the old men rose to their feet;^(C)
9 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)

¹⁸ “I thought, ‘I will die in my own house,
    my days as numerous as the grains of sand.^(W)
19 My roots will reach to the water,^(X)
    and the dew will lie all night on my branches.^(Y)
20 My glory will not fade;^(Z)
    the bow^(AA) will be ever new in my hand.’^(AB)

²¹ “People listened to me expectantly,
    waiting in silence for my counsel.^(AC)
22 After I had spoken, they spoke no more;^(AD)
    my words fell gently on their ears.^(AE)
23 They waited for me as for showers
    and drank in my words as the spring rain.^(AF)
24 When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it;
    the light of my face^(AG) was precious to them.^[a](AH)
25 I chose the way for them and sat as their chief;^(AI)
    I dwelt as a king^(AJ) among his troops;
    I was like one who comforts mourners.^(AK)