The Geneva Bible Translation Notes, [1599], at sacred-texts.com
(a) When I felt his favour.
(b) I was free from affliction.
As I was in the days of my youth, when the (c) secret of God [was] upon my tabernacle;
(c) That is, seemed by evident tokens to be more present with me.
When I washed my steps (d) with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
(d) By these comparisons he declares the great prosperity that he was in, so that he had no opportunity to be such a sinner as they accused him.
The young men saw me, and (e) hid themselves: and the aged arose, [and] stood up.
(e) Being ashamed of their lightness and afraid of my gravity.
The princes refrained talking, and laid [their] hand on their (f) mouth.
(f) Acknowledging my wisdom.
When the (g) ear heard [me], then it blessed me; and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me:
(g) All that heard me, praised me.
Because I delivered the (i) poor that cried, and the fatherless, and [him that had] none to help him.
(i) Because his adversaries did so much charge him with wickedness, he is compelled to render account of his life.
(k) The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
(k) That is, I helped him who was in distress, and so he had cause to praise me.
I put on (l) righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment [was] as a robe and a diadem.
(l) I delighted to do justice, as others did to wear costly apparel.
Then I said, I shall die in my (m) nest, and I shall multiply [my] days as the sand.
(m) That is, at home in my bed without all trouble and unquietness.
My root [was] (n) spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
(n) My happiness increases.
After my words they spake not again; and my speech (o) dropped upon them.
(o) That is, was pleasant to them.
And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide (p) [as] for the latter rain.
(p) As the dry ground thirsts for the rain.
[If] I (q) laughed on them, they believed [it] not; and the light of my countenance they (r) cast not down.
(q) That is, they thought it not to be a rest, or they did not think that I would condescend to them.
(r) They were afraid to offend me and cause me to be angry.
I chose out (s) their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one [that] comforteth the mourners.
(s) I had them at commandment.