1 ¶ But now those who are younger than I laugh at me, men whose fathers I would have refused to put with my sheep dogs.

2 Yea, what use to me was the strength of their hands, their vigor had left them?

3 Because of poverty and hunger they were alone; fleeing into the wilderness into the gloom of desolate waste.

4 They pluck mallows among the bushes, and juniper roots for their food.

5 They were driven from among men, (who shout at them as at a thief;)

6 To live in the gullies and ravines, in caves in the earth, and in the rocks.

7 They howl among the bushes; huddled together under the weeds.

8 They were children of fools, yea, the sons of worthless men: they have been scourged and driven out of the land.

9 And now am I their song, yes, I am a byword to them.

10 They look down on me, they keep their distance from me, and do not mind spitting in my face.

11 Because God has loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have cast off restraint in my presence.

12 The rabble rise up on my right; they push away my feet, and they construct a siege ramp against me.

13 They disrupt my plans, they contribute to my destruction, without anyone to stop them.

14 They came upon me as through a wide breach: amid the destruction they roll over me.

15 ¶ Terrors are turned against me: they chase away my dignity like the wind: and my welfare has passed away like a cloud.

16 And now my soul is poured out in me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.

17 There is no relief from the gnawing pain, that pierces my bones at night.

18 By the great force of my disease my garment is changed: 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 Lord I cry to you, but you do not hear me: I stand up, but you do not notice me.

21 You have become cruel to me: with your mighty hand you pursue me.

22 You lift me up on the wind; you cause me to ride upon it, and toss me about in the tempest.

23 For I know that you will bring me to death, and to the place appointed for all who live.

24 However a man does not stretch out his hand against one who is ruined, when in his disaster he calls for help.

25 Did I not weep for him who was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?

26 But when I looked for happiness, misery came to me: and when I expected light, darkness came.

27 My bowels are in turmoil, and will not quiet down: the days of affliction come to meet me.

28 I go about blackened, but not by the sun: I stand up in the congregation, and I call for help.

29 I am a brother to lizards, and a companion to owls.

30 My skin turns dark and peals, and my bones burn with fever.

31 My lyre is used for mourning, and my flute for the sound of weeping.