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
.
Yea, whereto might the strength
of their hands
profit me, in whom old age
was perished
?
For want and famine
they were solitary
; fleeing
into the wilderness
in former time
desolate
and waste
.
Who cut up mallows
by the bushes
, and juniper
roots
for their meat
.
They were driven forth from among
men , (they cried
after them as after a thief
;)
To dwell in the clifts
of the valleys
, in caves
of the earth
, and in the rocks
.
Among the bushes they brayed
; under the nettles
they were gathered together
.
They were children of fools
, yea, children
of base men
: they were viler
than the earth
.
And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword
.
They abhor me, they flee far
from me, and spare
not to spit
in my face
.
Because he hath loosed my cord
, and afflicted
me, they have also let loose
the bridle
before
me.
Upon my right hand rise
the youth
; they push away
my feet
, and they raise up
against me the ways
of their destruction
.
They mar my path
, they set forward
my calamity
, they have no helper
.
They came upon me as a wide
breaking
in of waters : in
the desolation
they rolled
themselves upon me .
Terrors are turned
upon me: they pursue
my soul
as the wind
: and my welfare
passeth away
as a cloud
.
And now my soul is poured out
upon me; the days
of affliction
have taken hold
upon me.
My bones are pierced
in me in the night season
: and my sinews
take no rest
.
By the great force
of my disease is my garment
changed
: it bindeth me about
as the collar
of my coat
.
He hath cast me into the mire
, and I am become like
dust
and ashes
.
I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear
me: I stand up
, and thou regardest
me not .
Thou art become cruel
to me: with thy strong
hand
thou opposest
thyself against me.
Thou liftest me up to the wind
; thou causest me to ride
upon it , and dissolvest
my substance
.
For I know that thou wilt bring
me to death
, and to the house
appointed
for all living
.
Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand
to the grave
, though they cry
in his destruction
.
Did not I weep for him that was in trouble
? was not my soul
grieved
for the poor
?
When I looked for good
, then evil
came
unto me : and when I waited
for light
, there came
darkness
.
My bowels boiled
, and rested
not: the days
of affliction
prevented
me.
I went mourning
without the sun
: I stood up
, and I cried
in the congregation
.
I am a brother to dragons
, and a companion
to owls
.
My skin is black
upon me, and my bones
are burned
with heat
.
My harp also is turned to mourning
, and my organ
into the voice
of them that weep
.