1. But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.
2. Yea, how might the strength of their hands profit me, those in whom maturity had perished?
3. Because of want and famine they were solitary; fleeing in former times into the wilderness desolate and waste.
4. Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their food.
5. They were driven forth from among men, who cried out after them as after a thief;
6. To dwell in the cliffs 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 insult.
10. They abhor me, they flee far from me, and do not spare to spit in my face.
11. Because he has loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also cast off all restraint before me.
12. On my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they build up against me the paths of their destruction.
13. They tear up my path, they advance my calamity, no one helps them.
14. They came upon me as a torrent of waters: in the desolation they came tumbling upon me.
15. Terrors are rushing upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passes away as a cloud.
16. And now my soul is poured out from me; the days of affliction have taken hold of me.
17. My bones are pierced with sorrow in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.
18. By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19. He has thrown me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
20. I cry unto you, and you do not hear me: I stand up, and you do not regard me.
21. You have become cruel to me: with your strong hand you oppose yourself against me.
22. You lift me up to the wind; you cause me to be driven before it, and dissolve my substance.
23. For I know that you will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
24. However he will not reach out his hand to the grave, though they lament his destruction.
25. Did I not weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?
26. When I looked for good, then evil came to me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
27. My bowels were in turmoil, and did not rest: the days of affliction came upon me.
28. I went mourning away from the sun: I stood up, and I cried out in the congregation.
29. I am a brother to wild beasts, and a companion to owls.
30. My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
31. My harp also has changed into mourning, and my pipe into the voice of those who weep.