7. When I went out to the city gateand secured my seat in the public square,
8. the young men would see me and step aside,and the old men would get up and remain standing;
9. the chief men refrained from talkingand covered their mouths with their hands;
10. the voices of the nobles fell silent,and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
11. “As soon as the ear heard these things, it blessed me,and when the eye saw them, it bore witness to me,
12. for I rescued the poor who cried out for help,and the orphan who had no one to assist him;
13. the blessing of the dying man descended on me,and I made the widow’s heart rejoice;
14. I put on righteousness and it clothed me,my just dealing was like a robe and a turban;
15. I was eyes for the blindand feet for the lame;
16. I was a father to the needy,and I investigated the case of the person I did not know;
17. I broke the fangs of the wicked,and made him drop his prey from his teeth.
18. “Then I thought, ‘I will die in my own home,my days as numerous as the grains of sand.
19. My roots reach the water,and the dew lies on my branches all night long.
20. My glory will always be fresh in me,and my bow ever new in my hand.’
21. “People listened to me and waited silently;they kept silent for my advice.
22. After I had spoken, they did not respond;my words fell on them drop by drop.