כִּי אֲמַלֵּט עָנִי מְשַׁוֵּעַ וְיָתוֹם וְלֹא עֹזֵר לוֹ: בִּרְכַּת אֹבֵד עָלַי תָּבֹא וְלֵב אַלְמָנָה אַרְנִן: צֶדֶק לָבַשְׁתִּי וַיִּלְבָּשֵׁנִי כִּמְעִיל וְצָנִיף מִשְׁפָּטִי: עֵינַיִם הָיִיתִי לַעִוֵּר וְרַגְלַיִם לַפִּסֵּחַ אָנִי: אָב אָנֹכִי לָאֶבְיוֹנִים וְרִב לֹא יָדַעְתִּי אֶחְקְרֵהוּ: וָאֲשַׁבְּרָה מְתַלְּעוֹת עַוָּל וּמִשִּׁנָּיו אַשְׁלִיךְ טָרֶף:
For I saved the poor who cried out, the orphan who had none to help. I received the blessing of the lost; I gladdened the heart of the widow. I clothed myself in righteousness and it robed me; justice was my cloak and turban. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a parent to the needy, and I looked into the case of the stranger. I broke the jaws of the wrongdoer, and I wrested prey from the wrongdoer's teeth. [JPS translation. Edited for gender neutrality]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. How did Job clothe himself in righteousness and justice?
2. How does this text define justice? Do you agree?
Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)