3 I
AM the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. 2 He
hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. 3 Surely
against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day. 4 My
flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones. 5 He
hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail. 6 He
hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. 7 He
hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. 8 Also
when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. 9 He
hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked. 10 He
was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places. 11 He
hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate. 12 He
hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. 13 He
hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins. 14 I
was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day. 15 He
hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. 16 He
hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with
ashes. 17 And
thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. 18 And
I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: 19 Remembering
mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20 My
soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. 21 This
I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It
is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions
fail not. 23 They
are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The
LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The
LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It
is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation
of the LORD. 27 It
is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28 He
sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. 29 He
putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. 30 He
giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. 31 For
the LORD will not cast off for ever: 32 But
though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude
of his mercies.
33
For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. 34 To
crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth. 35 To
turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High, 36 To
subvert a man in his cause, the LORD approveth not. 37 Who
is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? 38 Out
of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? 39 Wherefore
doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? 40 Let
us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. 41 Let
us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. 42 We
have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned. 43 Thou
hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not
pitied. 44 Thou
hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through. 45 Thou
hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people. 46 All
our enemies have opened their mouths against us. 47 Fear
and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction. 48 Mine
eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter
of my people. 49 Mine
eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission. 50 Till
the LORD look down, and behold from heaven. 51 Mine
eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city. 52 Mine
enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. 53 They
have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. 54 Waters
flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. 55 I called
upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. 56 Thou
hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. 57 Thou
drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. 58 O LORD,
thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life. 59 O LORD,
thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause. 60 Thou
hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me. 61 Thou
hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me; 62 The
lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the
day. 63 Behold
their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick. 64 Render
unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands. 65 Give
them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them. 66 Persecute
and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.