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[1]But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in their turn, whose fathers I set at nought; whom I did not deem worthy to be with my shepherd dogs.
[2]Yea, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term of life was lost.
[3]One is childless in want and famine, such as they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.
[4]Who compass the salt places on the sounding shore, who had salt herbs for their food, and were dishonorable and of no repute, in want of every good thing; who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger.
[5]Thieves have risen up against me,
[6]whose houses were the caves of the rocks, who lived under the wild shrubs.
[7]They will cry out among the rustling bushes.
[8]They are sons of fools and vile men, whose name and glory are quenched from off the earth.
[9]But now I am their music, and they have me for a by-word.
[10]And they stood aloof and abhorred me, and spared not to spit in my face.
[11]For he has opened his quiver and afflicted me: they also have cast off the restraint of my presence.
[12]They have risen up against me on the right hand of their offspring; they have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction.
[13]My paths are ruined; for they have stripped off my raiment: he has shot at me with his weapons.
[14]And he has pleaded against me as he will: I am overwhelmed with pains.
[15]My pains return upon me; my hope is gone like the wind, and my safety as a cloud.
[16]Even now my life shall be poured forth upon me; and days of anguish seize me.
[17]And by night my bones are confounded; and my sinews are relaxed.
[18]With great force my disease has taken hold of my garment: it has compassed me as the collar of my coat.
[19]And thou hast counted me as clay; my portion in dust and ashes.
[20]And I have cried to thee, but thou hearest me not: but they stood still, and observed me.
[21]They attacked me also without mercy: thou hast scourged me with a strong hand.
[22]And thou hast put me to grief, and hast cast me away from safety.
[23]For I know that death will destroy me: for the earth is the house appointed for every mortal.
[24]Oh then that I might lay hands upon myself, or at least ask another, and he should do this for me.
[25]Yet I wept over every helpless man; I groaned when I saw a man in distress.
[26]But I, when I waited for good things, behold, days of evils came the more upon me.
[27]My belly boiled, and would not cease: the days of poverty prevented me.
[28]I went mourning without restraint: and I have stood and cried out in the assembly.
[29]I am become a brother of monsters, and a companion of ostriches.
[30]And my skin has been greatly blackened, and my bones are burned with heat.
[31]My harp also has been turned into mourning, and my song into my weeping.
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