1But now the younger in time scorn me, whose fathers I would not have set with the dogs of my flock:
2The strength of whose hands was to me as nothing, and they were thought unworthy of life itself.
3Barren with want and hunger, who gnawed in the wilderness, disfigured with calamity and misery.
4And they ate grass, and barks of trees, and the root of junipers was their food.
5Who snatched up these things out of the valleys, and when they had found any of them, they ran to them with a cry.
6They dwelt in the desert places of torrents, and in caves of earth, or upon the gravel.
7They pleased themselves among these kind of things, and counted it delightful to be under the briers.
8The children of foolish and base men, and not appearing at all upon the earth.
9Now I am turned into their song, and am become their byword.
10They abhor me, and flee far from me, and are not afraid to spit in my face.
11For he hath opened his quiver, and hath afflicted me, and hath put a bridle into my mouth.
12At the right hand of my rising, my calamities forthwith arose: they have overthrown my feet, and have overwhelmed me with their paths as with waves.
13They have destroyed my ways, they have lain in wait against me, and they have prevailed, and there was none to help.
14They have rushed in upon me, as when a wall is broken, and a gate opened, and have rolled themselves down to my miseries.
15I am brought to nothing: as a wind thou hast taken away my desire: and my prosperity hath passed away like a cloud.
16And now my soul fadeth within myself, and the days of affliction possess me.
17In the night my bone is pierced with sorrows: and they that feed upon me, do not sleep.
18With the multitude of them my garment is consumed, and they have girded me about, as with the collar of my coat.
19I am compared to dirt, and am likened to embers and ashes.
20I cry to thee, and thou hearest me not: I stand up, and thou dost not regard me.
21Thou art changed to be cruel toward me, and in the hardness of thy hand thou art against me.
22Thou hast lifted me up, and set me as it were upon the wind, and thou hast mightily dashed me.
23I know that thou wilt deliver me to death, where a house is appointed for every one that liveth.
24But yet thou stretchest not forth thy hand to their consumption: and if they shall fall down thou wilt save.
25I wept heretofore for him that was afflicted, and my soul had compassion on the poor.
26I expected good things, and evils are come upon me: I waited for light, and darkness broke out.
27My inner parts have boiled without any rest, the days of affliction have prevented me.
28I went mourning without indignation; I rose up, and cried in the crowd.
29I was the brother of dragons, and companion of ostriches.
30My skin is become black upon me, and my bones are dried up with heat.
31My harp is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of those that weep.