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¹ But nowe they that are yonger then I, haue mee in derision, whose fathers I would haue disdained to haue set with the dogs of my flocke. ² Yea whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom olde age was perished? ³ For want and famine they were solitarie: flying into the wildernesse in former time desolate and waste: ⁴ Who cut vp mallowes by the bushes, and Iuniper rootes for their meate. ⁵ They were driuen foorth from among men, (they cried after them, as after a thiefe.) ⁶ To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caues of the earth, and in the rockes. ⁷ Among the bushes they brayed: vnder the nettles they were gathered together. ⁸ They were children of fooles, yea children of base men: they were viler then the earth. ⁹ And now am I their song, yea I am their by-word. ¹⁰ They abhorre me, they flee farre from me, and spare not to spit in my face. ¹¹ Because hee hath loosed my cord and afflicted me, they haue also let loose the bridle before me. ¹² Upon my right hand rise the youth, they push away my feete, and they raise vp against mee the wayes of their destruction. ¹³ They marre my path, they set forward my calamitie, they haue no helper. ¹⁴ They came vpon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselues vpon me.

¹⁵ Terrours are turned vpon mee: they pursue my soule as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloude. ¹⁶ And now my soule is powred out vpon me: the dayes of affliction haue taken hold vpon me. ¹⁷ My bones are pierced in mee in the night season: and my sinewes take no rest. ¹⁸ By the great force of my disease, is my garment changed: it bindeth mee about as the collar of my coat. ¹⁹ He hath cast mee into the myre, and I am become like dust and ashes. ²⁰ I crie vnto thee, and thou doest not heare me: I stand vp, and thou regardest me not. ²¹ Thou art become cruell to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thy selfe against me. ²² Thou liftest me vp to the wind: thou causest me to ride vpon it, and dissoluest my substance. ²³ For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all liuing. ²⁴ Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the graue, though they cry in his destruction. ²⁵ Did not I weepe for him that was in trouble? was not my soule grieued for the poore? ²⁶ When I looked for good, then euill came vnto mee: and when I waited for light, there came darkenes. ²⁷ My bowels boyled and rested not: the dayes of affliction preuented mee. ²⁸ I went mourning without the Sunne: I stood vp, and I cried in the Congregation. ²⁹ I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owles. ³⁰ My skinne is blacke vpon mee, and my bones are burnt with heat. ³¹ My harpe also is turned to mourning, and my organe into the voyce of them that weepe.