Part 25

18:029:008 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

18:029:009 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

18:029:010 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

18:029:011 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

18:029:012 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

18:029:013 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

18:029:014 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

18:029:015 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

18:029:016 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

18:029:017 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

18:029:018 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

18:029:019 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

18:029:020 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

18:029:021 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.

18:029:022 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

18:029:023 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

18:029:024 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

18:029:025 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

18:030:001 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

18:030:002 Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?

18:030:003 For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.

18:030:004 Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.

18:030:005 They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)

18:030:006 To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.

18:030:007 Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.

18:030:008 They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.

18:030:009 And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.

18:030:010 They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.