3 

when his lamp shone over my head,

and I could walk by his light through the dark!

4 

Oh to be as I once was in my prime,

when God was kindly sheltering my home,

5 

when the Almighty still was with me,

when my children were about me,

6 

when my farms were a-flow with milk,

and oil gushed from my oil- press!

7 

When I went to the city-council,

and sat down among the burghers,

8 

the youths fell back before me,

seniors rose to their feet,

9 

the nobles ceased to talk,

and held their peace,

10 

the magnates became mute,

and were struck dumb.

21 

Men listened to me carefully,

and silently awaited my advice;

22 

my words fell fresh on them like showers,

23 

they waited for me as for rain,

like the dry clods in spring for rain,

22 

and when I spoke, no one would speak again.

24 

When I smiled, it encouraged them,

my cheerful gaze put heart into the hopeless;

25 

I fixed their policy, I presided there,

commanding as a monarch among men.

11 

Men blessed me when they heard of me,

men owned my worth who saw me;

12 

for I delivered poor men when they cried,

the fatherless and helpless;

13 

perishing people would give me their blessing,

I gladdened the heart of the widow;

14 

I wore the robe of charity and 14 kindness,

my justice was a tunic and a turban;

15 

I was eyes to the blind,

I was feet to the lame,

16 

I was a father to protect the poor,

taking their case up, though it was not mine;

17 

I broke the jaws of any who oppressed,

and forced their fangs to drop their prey.

18 

So I thought, ‘I shall grow old among my brood,

my days shall be like sand for number;

19 

my roots reach to the water,

the dew lies on my branches all the night;

20 

fresh honours fall to me,

I grow in might.’