I am the man that hath seen
affliction
by the rod
of his wrath
.
He hath led me, and brought
me into darkness
, but not into light
.
Surely against me is he turned; he turneth
his hand
against me all the day
.
My flesh and my skin
hath he made old
; he hath broken
my bones
.
He hath builded against me, and compassed
me with gall
and travail
.
He hath set me in dark places
, as they that be dead
of old
.
He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out
: he hath made my chain
heavy
.
Also when I cry and shout
, he shutteth out
my prayer
.
He hath inclosed my ways
with hewn stone
, he hath made my paths
crooked
.
He was unto me as a bear lying in wait
, and as a lion
in secret places
.
He hath turned aside my ways
, and pulled me in pieces
: he hath made
me desolate
.
He hath bent his bow
, and set
me as a mark
for the arrow
.
He hath caused the arrows of his quiver
to enter
into my reins
.
I was a derision to all my people
; and their song
all the day
.
He hath filled me with bitterness
, he hath made me drunken
with wormwood
.
He hath also broken my teeth
with gravel stones
, he hath covered
me with ashes
.
And thou hast removed my soul
far off
from peace
: I forgat
prosperity
.
And I said, My strength
and my hope
is perished
from the LORD
:
Remembering mine affliction
and my misery
, the wormwood
and the gall
.
My soul hath them still
in remembrance
, and is humbled
in me.
This I recall to my mind
, therefore have I hope
.
It is of the LORD'S mercies
that we are not consumed
, because his compassions
fail
not.
They are new every morning
: great
is thy faithfulness
.
The LORD is my portion
, saith
my soul
; therefore will I hope
in him.
The LORD is good
unto them that wait
for him, to the soul
that seeketh
him.
It is good that a man should both hope
and quietly wait
for the salvation
of the LORD
.
It is good for a man
that he bear
the yoke
in his youth
.
He sitteth alone
and keepeth silence
, because he hath borne
it upon him.
He putteth his mouth
in the dust
; if so be there may be
hope
.
He giveth his cheek
to him that smiteth
him: he is filled full
with reproach
.
For the Lord will not cast off
for ever
:
But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion
according to the multitude
of his mercies
.
For he doth not afflict willingly
nor grieve
the children
of men
.
To crush under his feet
all the prisoners
of the earth
,
To turn aside the right
of a man
before the face
of the most High
,
To subvert a man
in his cause
, the Lord
approveth
not.
Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord
commandeth
it not?
Out of the mouth of the most High
proceedeth
not evil
and good
?
Wherefore doth a living man
complain
, a man
for the punishment of his sins
?
Let us search and try
our ways
, and turn again
to the LORD
.
Let us lift up our heart
with our hands
unto God
in the heavens
.
We have transgressed
and have rebelled
: thou hast not pardoned
.
Thou hast covered with anger
, and persecuted
us: thou hast slain
, thou hast not pitied
.
Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud
, that our prayer
should not pass through
.
Thou hast made us as the offscouring
and refuse
in the midst
of the people
.
All our enemies have opened
their mouths
against us.
Fear and a snare
is come upon us, desolation
and destruction
.
Mine eye runneth down
with rivers
of water
for the destruction
of the daughter
of my people
.
Mine eye trickleth down
, and ceaseth
not, without any intermission
,
Till the LORD look down
, and behold
from heaven
.
Mine eye affecteth
mine heart
because of all the daughters
of my city
.
Mine enemies chased
me sore
, like a bird
, without cause
.
They have cut off my life
in the dungeon
, and cast
a stone
upon me.
Waters flowed over
mine head
; then I said
, I am cut off
.
I called upon thy name
, O LORD
, out of the low
dungeon
.
Thou hast heard my voice
: hide
not thine ear
at my breathing
, at my cry
.
Thou drewest near in the day
that I called
upon thee: thou saidst
, Fear
not.
O Lord, thou hast pleaded
the causes
of my soul
; thou hast redeemed
my life
.
O LORD, thou hast seen
my wrong
: judge
thou my cause
.
Thou hast seen all their vengeance
and all their imaginations
against me.
Thou hast heard their reproach
, O LORD
, and all their imaginations
against me;
The lips of those that rose up
against me, and their device
against me all the day
.
Behold their sitting down
, and their rising up
; I am their musick
.
Render unto them a recompence
, O LORD
, according to the work
of their hands
.
Give them sorrow
of heart
, thy curse
unto them.
Persecute and destroy
them in anger
from under the heavens
of the LORD
.