Great(i)
7 when I wente thorowe the cytie vnto the gate, and when they set me a chayre in the strete:
8 when the yonge men (as soone as they sawe me) hid them selues, and when the aged arose, and stode vp vnto me,
9 when the Princes left of their talkinge, and layed their hande to their mouth:
10 when the myghty kepte still their voyce, and when their tonge cleued to the rofe of their mouthe.
11 When all they that herde me, called me happye: and when all they that sawe me, spake good of me.
12 For I deliuered the poore when he cried, and so did I the fatherlesse and him that had none to holde him.
13 He that shulde haue bene lost, gaue me a good worde, and the wyddowes herte praysed me.
14 And why? I put vpon me ryghteousnes, which couered me as a garment, and equyte was my crowne.
15 I was an eye vnto the blynde, and a fote to the lame,
16 I was a father vnto the poore: and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out diligently.
17 I brake the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckte the spoyle out of his teth.
18 Therfore, I thought verely that I shuld haue dyed in my nest: and that my dayes shulde haue bene as many as the sondes of the see.
19 For my roote was spred out by the watersyde, and the dewe laye vpon my corne.
20 Myne honour encreased more and more, and my bowe was euer the stronger in my hand.
21 Unto me men gaue eare, me they regarded, and with sylence they taryed for my councell.
22 If I had spoken, they wolde haue it none other wayes, my wordes were so well taken amonge them.
23 They wayted for me as for the rayne: and gaped vpon me, as the grounde doth to receaue the latter shower.
24 When I laughed, they knewe well it was not earnest: and the lyght of my countenaunce wolde they not put out.
25 When I agreed vnto theyr waye, I was the chefe, and sat as a kynge with hys armye aboute hym. And whan they were in heuynes, I was theyr comfortoure.