1 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose
2 Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom
4 Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their
5 They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as
7 Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were
8 They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were
9 And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in
11 Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also
12 Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and
13 They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no
14 They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the
15 Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and
16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction
17 My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews
18 By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it
19 He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and
20 I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou
21 Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest
22 Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it,
23 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house
24 Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though
25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul
27 My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction
28 I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the
29 I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
30 My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
31 My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice