Add parallel Print Page Options

11 ·Anyone [L Any ear] who heard me ·spoke well of [L blessed] me,
    and ·those who [L the eye that] saw me ·praised [L bore testimony to] me,
12 because I ·saved [rescued] the poor who ·called out [L cried for help]
    and the orphan who had no one to help.
13 The ·dying [L perishing] person blessed me,
    and I made the widow’s heart ·sing [L shout for joy].
14 I ·put on right living as if it were clothing [L clothed myself with righteousness and it clothed me];
    I wore ·fairness [justice] like a robe and a turban.
15 I was eyes for the blind
    and feet for the lame.
16 I was like a father to needy people,
    and I ·took the side of [examined the cause of] ·strangers who were in trouble [L strangers; those I did not know].
17 I broke the ·fangs [or jaw] of evil people
    and snatched the ·captives [L prey; C the wicked are predators] from their teeth.

18 “I thought, ‘I will ·live for as many days as there are grains of [L multiply my days like] sand,
    and I will die in my ·own house [L nest].
19 My roots ·will reach down [opened] to the water.
    The dew ·will lie [lodged] on the branches all night.
20 ·New honors will come to me continually [My honor/or liver/heart was new],
    and ·I will always have great strength [L my bow was renewed within my hand].’

21 “People listened to me carefully
    and waited ·quietly [silently] for my advice.
22 After I finished speaking, they spoke no more.
    My words ·fell [L dripped] very gently on their ears.
23 They waited for me as they would for rain
    and ·drank in my words like [L opened their mouth for] spring rain.
24 I smiled at them when they ·doubted [L had no confidence],
    and ·my approval was important to them [L they did not frown at the light of my countenance].
25 I chose the way for them and ·was their leader [L sat as their chief].
    I lived like a king among his army,
like a person who comforts ·sad [mourning] people.

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends