Job 29:7-17

“When I went out to the gate of the city, When I took my seat [as a city father] in the square, The young men saw me and hid themselves, The aged arose and stood [respectfully]; The princes stopped talking And put their hands on their mouths; The voices of the nobles were hushed, And their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. “For when an ear heard [my name mentioned], it called me happy and fortunate; And when an eye saw [me], it testified for me [approvingly], Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, And the orphan who had no helper. “The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban! “I was eyes to the blind And I was feet to the lame. “I was a father to the needy; I investigated the case I did not know [and assured justice]. “And I smashed the jaws of the wicked And snatched the prey from his teeth.