8 the young men saw me and stepped aside

and the old men rose to their feet;

9 the chief men refrained from speaking

and covered their mouths with their hands;

10 the voices of the nobles were hushed,

and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me,

and those who saw me commended me,

12 because I rescued the poor who cried for help,

and the fatherless who had none to assist them.

13 The one who was dying blessed me;

I made the widow’s heart sing.

14 I put on righteousness as my clothing;

justice was my robe and my turban.

15 I was eyes to the blind

and feet to the lame.

16 I was a father to the needy;

I took up the case of the stranger.

17 I broke the fangs of the wicked

and snatched the victims from their teeth.

8 the young men saw me and withdrew,

and the aged rose and stood;

9 the princes refrained from talking

and laid their hand on their mouth;

10 the voice of the nobles was hushed,

and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.

11 When the ear heard, it called me blessed,

and when the eye saw, it approved,

12 because I delivered the poor who cried for help,

and the fatherless who had none to help him.

13 The blessing of him who was about 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 justice was like a robe and a turban.

15 I was eyes to the blind

and feet to the lame.

16 I was a father to the needy,

and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know.

17 I broke the fangs of the unrighteous

and made him drop his prey from his teeth.

8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves:

And the aged arose, and stood up.

9 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.

8 The young stepped aside when they saw me,

and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.

9 The princes stood in silence

and put their hands over their mouths.

10 The highest officials of the city stood quietly,

holding their tongues in respect.

11 “All who heard me praised me.

All who saw me spoke well of me.

12 For I assisted the poor in their need

and the orphans who required help.

13 I helped those without hope, and they blessed me.

And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.

14 Everything I did was honest.

Righteousness covered me like a robe,

and I wore justice like a turban.

15 I served as eyes for the blind

and feet for the lame.

16 I was a father to the poor

and assisted strangers who needed help.

17 I broke the jaws of godless oppressors

and plucked their victims from their teeth.

8 When the young men saw me, they would step aside,

and the old men would stand up in respect.

9 The leading men stopped speaking

and covered their mouths with their hands.

10 The voices of the important men were quiet,

as if their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11 Anyone who heard me spoke well of me,

and those who saw me praised me,

12 because I saved the poor who called out

and the orphan who had no one to help.

13 The dying person blessed me,

and I made the widow’s heart sing.

14 I put on right living as if it were clothing;

I wore fairness 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 strangers who were in trouble.

17 I broke the fangs of evil people

and snatched the captives from their teeth.

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves,

And the aged rose up and stood;

9 The princes refrained from talking,

And laid their hand on their mouth;

10 The voice of the nobels was hushed,

And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me;

And when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me:

12 Because I delivered the poor that cried,

The fatherless also, 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 justice 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 needy:

And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.

17 And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous,

And plucked the prey out of his teeth.

8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged arose and stood up; 9 Princes refrained from talking, and laid the hand on their mouth; 10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to their palate. 11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me; 12 For I delivered the afflicted that cried, and the fatherless who had no helper. 13 The blessing of him that was perishing came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was as a mantle and a turban. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame; 16 I was a father to the needy, and the cause which I knew not I searched out; 17 And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

8 young men saw me and kept out of sight. 

Old men stood up straight out of respect ⸤for me⸥. 

9 Princes held back ⸤their⸥ words 

and put their hands over their mouths. 

10 The voices of nobles were hushed, 

and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths. 

11 “⸤Any⸥ ears that heard me blessed me. 

⸤Any⸥ eyes that saw me spoke well of me, 

12 because I rescued the poor who called ⸤for help⸥ 

and the orphans who had no one to help them. 

13 I received a blessing from the dying. 

I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. 

14 I put on righteousness, and it was my clothing. 

I practiced justice, and it was my robe and my turban. 

15 I was eyes for the blind person. 

I was feet for the lame person. 

16 I was father to the needy. 

I carefully investigated cases brought by strangers. 

17 I broke the teeth of the wicked person 

and made him drop the prey out of his mouth. 

8 the young men saw me and withdrew,

while older men stood to their feet.

9 City officials stopped talking

and covered their mouths with their hands.

10 The noblemen’s voices were hushed,

and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11 When they heard me, they blessed me,

and when they saw me, they spoke well of me.

12 For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help,

and the fatherless child who had no one to support him.

13 The dying man blessed me,

and I made the widow’s heart rejoice.

14 I clothed myself in righteousness,

and it enveloped me;

my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.

15 I was eyes to the blind

and feet to the lame.

16 I was a father to the needy,

and I examined the case of the stranger.

17 I shattered the fangs of the unjust

and snatched the prey from his teeth.

8 the young men saw me and withdrew,

and the aged rose up and stood;

9 the nobles refrained from talking,

and laid their hands on their mouths;

10 the voices of princes were hushed,

and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11 When the ear heard, it commended me,

and when the eye saw, it approved;

12 because I delivered the poor who cried,

and the orphan who had no helper.

13 The blessing of the wretched came upon me,

and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

my justice was like a robe and a turban.

15 I was eyes to the blind,

and feet to the lame.

16 I was a father to the needy,

and I championed the cause of the stranger.

17 I broke the fangs of the unrighteous,

and made them drop their prey from their teeth.

8 Young men saw me and stepped aside,

and the aged rose up and stood.

9 Officials refrained from talking,

and they laid their hand on their mouth.

10 The voices of nobles were hushed,

and their tongue stuck to their palate.

11 “When the ear heard and commended me,

and the eye saw and testified in support of me

12 because I saved the needy who cried for help,

and I saved the orphan for whom there was no helper.

13 The blessing of the wretched came upon me,

and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

my justice was like a robe and a headband.

15 “I was eyes to the blind,

and I was feet to the lame.

16 I was a father to the poor,

and I investigated the stranger’s legal dispute.

17 And I broke the evil one’s jaw bones,

and I made his prey drop from his teeth.

8 Young people who saw me stepped to one side.

Old people stood up as I approached.

9 The leaders stopped speaking.

They covered their mouths with their hands.

10 The voices of the nobles became quiet.

Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

11 Everyone who heard me said good things about me.

Those who saw me honored me.

12 That’s because I saved poor people who cried out for help.

I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.

13 Those who were dying gave me their blessing.

I made the hearts of widows sing.

14 I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes.

Fairness was my robe and my turban.

15 I was like eyes for those who were blind.

I was like feet for those who couldn’t walk.

16 I was like a father to needy people.

I stood up for strangers in court.

17 Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth.

But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves,

And the old men arose and stood.

9 “The princes stopped talking

And put their hands on their mouths;

10 The voice of the nobles was hushed,

And their tongue stuck to their palate.

11 “For when the ear heard, it called me blessed,

And when the eye saw, it gave witness of me,

12 Because I delivered the poor who cried for help,

And the orphan who had no helper.

13 “The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me,

And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

14 “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

My justice was like a robe and a turban.

15 “I was eyes to the blind

And feet to the lame.

16 “I was a father to the needy,

And I investigated the case which I did not know.

17 “I broke the jaws of the wicked

And snatched the prey from his teeth.