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