16 I was like a father to needy people,and I took the side of strangers who were in trouble.
17 I broke the fangs of evil peopleand snatched the captives from their teeth.
18 “I thought, ‘I will live for as many days as there are grains of sand,and I will die in my own house.
19 My roots will reach down to the water.The dew will lie on the branches all night.
20 New honors will come to me continually,and I will always have great strength.’
21 “People listened to me carefullyand waited quietly for my advice.
22 After I finished speaking, they spoke no more.My words fell very gently on their ears.