Study Desk

When I went out to the gate unto the city, in the open place, made ready my seat,

Young men saw me, and hid themselves, and, the aged, arose - they stood;

Rulers, restrained speech, and, a hand, laid they on their mouth;

The voice of nobles, was hushed, and their tongue to their palate, did cleave;

When, the ear, heard, then it pronounced me happy, When, the eye, saw, then it bare me witness;

Because I used to deliver the oppressed who was crying out for aid, the fatherless also, and him that had no helper;

The blessing of him that was ready to perish, upon me was wont to descend, and, the heart of the widow, caused I to sing for joy;

Righteousness, I put on, and it clothed me, Like a robe and turban, was my, justice;

Eyes, became I to the, blind, and, feet to the lame, was, I!

A father, was, I, to the needy, and, as for the cause which I knew not, I used to search it out;

And I shivered the fangs of the perverse, - and, out of his teeth, I tare the prey.

Then said I, Like a stem, shall I grow old, yea, as the sand, shall I multiply days:

My root, is laid open to the waters, and, the dew, shall lodge for the night in my boughs;

Mine honour, shall be young again with me, and, my bow, in my hand, be renewed.

To me, men hearkened, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel;

After I had spoken, they spake not again, and, upon them, used my speech to drop;

And they waited, as for rain, for me, and, their mouths, they opened wide for the spring-rain;

I laughed at them - they lost confidence, and, the light of my countenance, they suffered not to fail;

I chose out their way, and sat chief, - and abode, as king, in an army, as one who, to mourners, giveth comfort.