1 “But now they mock at me,menyounger than I,
Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.
2 Indeed, whatprofitis the strength of their hands to me?
Their vigor has perished.
3 Theyaregaunt from want and famine,
Fleeing late to the wilderness, desolate and waste,
4 Who pluck mallow by the bushes,
And broom tree rootsfortheir food.
5 They were driven out from amongmen,
They shouted at them asata thief.
6 Theyhadto live in the clefts of the valleys,
Incaves of the earth and the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they brayed,
Under the nettles they nestled.
8 Theyweresons of fools,
Yes, sons of vile men;
They were scourged from the land.
9 “Andnow I am their taunting song;
Yes, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they keep far from me;
# They do not hesitateto spit in my face.
11 BecauseHe has loosed my bowstring and afflicted me,
They have cast off restraint before me.
12 Atmyrighthandthe rabble arises;
They push away my feet,
# Andthey raise against me their ways of destruction.
13 They break up my path,
They promote my calamity;
They have no helper.
14 They come as broad breakers;
Under the ruinous storm they roll along.
15 Terrors are turned upon me;
They pursue my honor as the wind,
And my prosperity has passed like a cloud.
16 “Andnow my soul ispoured out because of myplight;
The days of affliction take hold of me.
17 My bones are pierced in me at night,
And my gnawing pains take no rest.
18 By great force my garment is disfigured;
It binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19 He has cast me into the mire,
And I have become like dust and ashes.
20 “Icry out to You, but You do not answer me;
I stand up, and You regard me.
21 ButYou have become cruel to me;
# With the strength of Your hand Youoppose me.
22 You lift me up to the wind and cause me to rideonit;
You spoil my success.
23 For I knowthatYou will bring metodeath,
# Andtothe houseappointed for all living.
24 “Surely He would not stretch outHishand against a heap of ruins,
If they cry out when He destroysit.
25 Have I not wept for him who was in trouble?
Hasnotmy soul grieved for the poor?
26 But when I looked for good, evil cametome;
And when I waited for light, then came darkness.
27 My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest;
Days of affliction confront me.
28 I go about mourning, but not in the sun;
I stand up in the assemblyandcry out for help.
29 I am a brother of jackals,
And a companion of ostriches.
30 My skin grows black and falls from me;
# My bones burn with fever.
31 My harp isturnedto mourning,
And my flute to the voice of those who weep.