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¹ Bvt now they that are yonger then I, mocke me: yea, they whose fathers I haue refused to set with the dogges of my flockes.² For whereto shoulde the strength of their handes haue serued mee, seeing age perished in them?³ For pouertie and famine they were solitary, fleeing into the wildernes, which is darke, desolate and waste.⁴ They cut vp nettels by the bushes, & the iuniper rootes was their meate.⁵ They were chased forth fro among men: they shouted at them, as at a theefe.⁶ Therfore they dwelt in the clefts of riuers, in the holes of the earth and rockes.⁷ They roared among the bushes, and vnder the thistles they gathered themselues.⁸ They were the children of fooles and the children of villaines, which were more vile then the earth.⁹ And now am I their song, and I am their talke.¹⁰ They abhorre me, & flee farre from mee, and spare not to spit in my face.¹¹ Because that God hath loosed my corde and humbled mee, they haue loosed the bridle before me.¹² The youth rise vp at my right hand: they haue pusht my feete, and haue trode on me as on the paths of their destruction.¹³ They haue destroyed my paths: they tooke pleasure at my calamitie, they had none helpe.¹⁴ They came as a great breach of waters, & vnder this calamitie they come on heapes.

¹⁵ Feare is turned vpon mee: and they pursue my soule as the winde, and mine health passeth away as a cloude.¹⁶ Therefore my soule is nowe powred out vpon me, and the dayes of affliction haue taken holde on me.¹⁷ It pearceth my bones in the night, and my sinewes take no rest.¹⁸ For the great vehemencie is my garment changed, which compasseth me about as the colar of my coate.¹⁹ He hath cast me into the myre, and I am become like ashes and dust.²⁰ Whe I cry vnto thee, thou doest not heare me, neither regardest me, when I stand vp.²¹ Thou turnest thy selfe cruelly against me, and art enemie vnto mee with the strength of thine hand.²² Thou takest me vp & causest mee to ride vpo the winde, & makest my strength to faile.²³ Surely I knowe that thou wilt bring mee to death, and to the house appoynted for all the liuing.²⁴ Doubtles none can stretch his hand vnto the graue, though they cry in his destruction.²⁵ Did not I weepe with him that was in trouble? was not my soule in heauinesse for the poore?²⁶ Yet when I looked for good, euill came vnto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkenesse.²⁷ My bowels did boyle without rest: for the dayes of affliction are come vpon me.²⁸ I went mourning without sunne: I stood vp in the congregation and cryed.²⁹ I am a brother to the dragons, & a companion to the ostriches.³⁰ My skinne is blacke vpon me, & my bones are burnt with heate.³¹ Therefore mine harpe is turned to mourning, and mine organs into the voyce of them that weepe.