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  ⁿI ^oput 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 ^pbroke the ^qfangs of the unrighteous

and made him drop his prey from his teeth.

18  Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest,

and I shall multiply my days ^ras the sand,

19  my roots spread out to the waters,

with the dew all night on my branches,

20  my glory fresh with me,

and my bow ever new in my hand.’

21  “Men listened to me and waited

and kept silence for my counsel.

22  After I spoke they did not speak again,

and my word dropped upon them.

23  They waited for me as for the rain,

and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

24  I smiled on them when they had no confidence,

and the ^slight of my face they did not cast down.

25  I chose their way and sat as chief,

and I lived ^tlike a king among his troops,

like one who comforts mourners.