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[1]But nowe they that are younger then I haue me in derision: yea euen they whose fathers I would haue thought scorne to haue set with the dogges of my cattell
[2]For wherto might the strength of their handes haue serued me? for the time was but lost among them
[3]For very miserie and hunger they fled into the wildernesse, a darke place, horrible and waste
[4]Plucking vp nettles among the busshes, and the iuniper rootes for their meate
[5]And when they were dryuen foorth, men cryed after them as it had ben afafter a thiefe
[6]Their dwelling was in the cleftes of brookes, yea in the caues and dennes of the earth
[7]Among the busshes went they about crying, and vnder the thornes they gathered them selues together
[8]They were the children of fooles and vyllaynes, which are more vile then the earth
[9]Now am I their song, & am become their yesting stocke
[10]They abhorre me and flee farre from me, and stayne my face with spittle
[11]Because God hath loosed my corde and humbled me, they haue loosed the bridle before me
[12]Upon my right hande ryse the young men against me, they haue hurt my feete, treading vpon me as vpon the wayes of their destruction
[13]My pathes haue they cleane marred, it was so easye for them to do me harme, that they needed no man to help them
[14]They fell vpon me, as it had ben the breaking in of waters, and came in by heapes to destroy me
[15]Feare is turned vpon me, and they pursue my soule as the wind, and my health passeth away as a cloude
[16]Therfore is my soule now powred out vpon me, and the dayes of my trouble haue taken hold vpon me
[17]My bones are pearsed through in the night season, and my sinewes take no rest
[18]For the vehemencie of sorowe is my garment chaunged, whiche compasseth me about as the coller of my coote
[19]He hath cast me into the myre, and I am become like asshes and dust
[20]When I crie vnto thee, thou doest not heare me: and though I stande before thee, yet thou regardest me not
[21]Thou art become myne enemie, and with thy violent hande thou takest part against me
[22][In times past] thou diddest set me vp on hye, to be caried as it were aboue the wynde, [but nowe] hast thou geuen me a very sore fall
[23]Sure I am that thou wilt bryng me vnto death, euen to the lodging that is due vnto all men liuing
[24]Notwithstanding, thou wilt not stretch out thyne hand against him that is in the graue: shal men crie out against him that is in destruction
[25]Dyd not I weepe with hym that was in trouble? Had not my soule compassion vpon the poore
[26]Yet neuerthelesse, where as I loked for good, euyll came vnto me: & where I wayted for light, there came darkenesse
[27]My bowels seethe in me without rest, for the dayes of my trouble are come vpon me
[28]I went mourning without heate, I stoode vp in the congregation, & communed with them
[29]But nowe I am a brother of dragons, and a felowe of Estriches
[30]My skinne vpon me is [turned] to blacke, and my bones are brent with heate
[31]My harpe is turned to mourning, and my organs into the voyce of them that weepe
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