30 But
now they that 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,
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 men, (they cried 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 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.