1
But now they that are younger[H6810] than I have me in derision[H7832], whose fathers[H1] I would have disdained[H3988] to have set[H7896] with the dogs[H3611] of my flock[H6629].
2
Yea, whereto[H4100] might the strength[H3581] of their hands[H3027] profit me, in whom old age[H3624] was perished?[H6]
3
For want[H2639] and famine[H3720] they were solitary[H1565]; fleeing[H6207] into the wilderness[H6723] in former time[H570]desolate[H7722] and waste[H4875].
4
Who cut up[H6998]mallows[H4408] by the bushes[H7880], and juniper[H7574]roots[H8328] for their meat[H3899].
5
They were driven forth[H1644] from among[H1460] men,(they cried[H7321] after them as after a thief[H1590];)
6
To dwell[H7931] in the clifts[H6178] of the valleys[H5158], in caves[H2356] of the earth[H6083], and in the rocks[H3710].
7
Among the bushes[H7880] they brayed[H5101]; under the nettles[H2738] they were gathered together[H5596].
8
They were children[H1121] of fools[H5036], yea, children[H1121] of base men[H8034]: they were viler[H5217] than the earth[H776].
9
And now am I their song[H5058], yea, I am their byword[H4405].
10
They abhor[H8581] me, they flee far[H7368] from me, and spare[H2820] not to spit[H7536] in my face[H6440].
11
Because he hath loosed[H6605] my cord[H3499], and afflicted[H6031] me, they have also let loose[H7971] the bridle[H7448]before[H6440] me.
12
Upon my right[H3225] hand rise[H6965] the youth[H6526]; they push away[H7971] my feet[H7272], and they raise up[H5549] against me the ways[H734] of their destruction[H343].
13
They mar[H5420] my path[H5410], they set forward[H3276] my calamity[H1942], they have no helper[H5826].
14
They came[H857] upon me as a wide[H7342]breaking[H6556]in[H8478] of waters: in[H8478] the desolation[H7722] they rolled[H1556] themselves upon me.
15Terrors[H1091] are turned[H2015] upon me: they pursue[H7291] my soul[H5082] as the wind[H7307]: and my welfare[H3444] passeth away[H5674] as a cloud[H5645].
16
And now my soul[H5315] is poured out[H8210] upon me; the days[H3117] of affliction[H6040] have taken hold[H270] upon me.
17
My bones[H6106] are pierced[H5365] in me in the night season[H3915]: and my sinews[H6207] take no rest[H7901].
18
By the great[H7230]force[H3581] of my disease is my garment[H3830]changed[H2664]: it bindeth me about[H247] as the collar[H6310] of my coat[H3801].
19
He hath cast[H3384] me into the mire[H2563], and I am become like[H4911]dust[H6083] and ashes[H665].
20
I cry[H7768] unto thee, and thou dost not hear[H6030] me: I stand up[H5975], and thou regardest[H995] me not.
21
Thou art become[H2015]cruel[H393] to me: with thy strong[H6108]hand[H3027] thou opposest[H7852] thyself against me.
22
Thou liftest me up[H5375] to the wind[H7307]; thou causest me to ride[H7392] upon it, and dissolvest[H4127] my substance[H8454].
23
For I know[H3045] that thou wilt bring[H7725] me to death[H4194], and to the house[H1004]appointed[H4150] for all living[H2416].
24
Howbeit he will not stretch out[H7971] his hand[H3027] to the grave[H1164], though they cry[H7769] in his destruction[H6365].
25
Did not I weep[H1058] for him that was in trouble?[H7186] was not my soul[H5315]grieved[H5701] for the poor?[H34]
26
When I looked[H6960] for good[H2896], then evil[H7451]came[H935] unto me: and when I waited[H3176] for light[H216], there came[H935]darkness[H652].
27
My bowels[H4578]boiled[H7570], and rested[H1826] not: the days[H3117] of affliction[H6040]prevented[H6923] me.
28
I went[H1980]mourning[H6937] without the sun[H2535]: I stood up[H6965], and I cried[H7768] in the congregation[H6951].
29
I am a brother[H251] to dragons[H8577], and a companion[H7453] to owls[H1323].
30
My skin[H5785] is black[H7835] upon me, and my bones[H6106] are burned[H2787] with heat[H2721].
31
My harp[H3658] also is turned to mourning[H60], and my organ[H5748] into the voice[H6963] of them that weep[H1058].