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