Verse 1
But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.
Verse 2
Indeed, how might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age has perished?
Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?
Verse 3
For want and famine they were solitary, fleeing into the wilderness in former times desolate and waste.
For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
Verse 4
Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their food.
Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.
Verse 5
They were driven out from among men, they cried after them as after a thief;
They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)
Verse 6
To dwell in the clefts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
Verse 7
Among the bushes they brayed, under the nettles they gathered together.
Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.
Verse 8
They were children of fools, yes, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.
They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.
Verse 9
And now I am their song, yes, I am their byword.
And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.
Verse 10
They abhor me, they flee far from me, and do not hesitate to spit in my face.
They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.
Verse 11
Because He has loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.
Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.
Verse 12
Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.
Verse 13
They mar my path, they advance my calamity, they have no helper.
They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.
Verse 14
They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
Verse 15
Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind, and my welfare passes away like a cloud.
Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.
Verse 16
And now my soul is poured out within me; the days of affliction have seized me.
And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
Verse 17
My bones are pierced in me at night, and my sinews find no rest.
My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.
Verse 18
By the great force of my disease my garment is changed: it binds me about like the collar of my coat.
By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.
Verse 19
He has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes.
He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
Verse 20
I cry to You, and You do not hear me: I stand up, and You regard me not.
I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.
Verse 21
You have become cruel to me: with Your strong hand You oppose Yourself against me.
Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.
Verse 22
You lift me up to the wind; You cause me to ride upon it, and dissolve my substance.
Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance.
Verse 23
For I know that You will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
Verse 24
However, He will not stretch out His hand to the grave, though they cry out in their destruction.
Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.
Verse 25
Did I not weep for those in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the poor?
Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?
Verse 26
When I looked for good, then evil came to me; and when I waited for light, darkness came.
When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
Verse 27
My insides boiled and did not rest: the days of affliction confronted me.
My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.
Verse 28
I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.
Verse 29
I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to owls.
I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
Verse 30
My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
Verse 31
My harp is also turned to mourning, and my flute to the voice of those who weep.
My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.