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¹ [ALEPH-BET] I [am] the man [who] has seen affliction || By the rod of His wrath.² He has led me, and causes to go [in] darkness, and without light.³ Surely against me He turns back, || He turns His hand all the day.⁴ He has worn out my flesh and my skin. He has broken my bones.⁵ He has built up against me, || And sets around poverty and weariness.⁶ In dark places He has caused me to dwell, || As the dead of old.⁷ He has hedged me in, and I do not go out, || He has made heavy my chain.⁸ Also when I call and cry out, || He has shut out my prayer.⁹ He has hedged my ways with hewn work, || My paths He has made crooked.¹⁰ A bear lying in wait He [is] to me, || A lion in secret hiding places.¹¹ My ways He is turning aside, and He pulls me in pieces, || He has made me a desolation.¹² He has bent His bow, || And sets me up as a mark for an arrow.¹³ He has caused to enter into my reins || The sons of His quiver.¹⁴ I have been a derision to all my people, || Their song all the day.¹⁵ He has filled me with bitter things, || He has filled me [with] wormwood.¹⁶ And He breaks with gravel my teeth, || He has covered me with ashes.¹⁷ And You cast off my soul from peace, || I have forgotten prosperity.¹⁸ And I say, My strength and my hope have perished from YHWH.¹⁹ Remember my affliction and my mourning, || Wormwood and gall!²⁰ Remember well, and my soul bows down in me.

²¹ This I turn to my heart—therefore I hope.²² The kindnesses of YHWH! For we have not been consumed, || For His mercies have not ended.²³ New every morning, abundant [is] Your faithfulness.²⁴ My portion [is] YHWH, my soul has said, || Therefore I hope for Him.²⁵ YHWH [is] good to those waiting for Him, || To the soul [that] seeks Him.²⁶ [It is] good when one stays and stands still || For the salvation of YHWH.²⁷ [It is] good for a man that he bears a yoke in his youth.²⁸ He sits alone, and is silent, || For He has laid [it] on him.²⁹ He puts his mouth in the dust, if so be, there is hope.³⁰ He gives to his striker the cheek, || He is filled with reproach.³¹ For the Lord does not cast off for all time.³² For though He afflicted, yet He has pitied, || According to the abundance of His kindness.³³ For He has not afflicted with His heart, || Nor does He grieve the sons of men.³⁴ To bruise under one's feet any bound ones of earth,³⁵ To turn aside the judgment of a man, || Before the face of the Most High,³⁶ To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord has not approved.

³⁷ Who [is] this—he has spoken, and it is, || [And] the Lord has not commanded [it]?³⁸ From the mouth of the Most High does not go forth the evils and the good.³⁹ Why does a living man sigh habitually, || A man for his sin?⁴⁰ We search our ways, and investigate, || And turn back to YHWH.⁴¹ We lift up our heart on the hands to God in the heavens.

⁴² We have transgressed and been rebellious, || You have not forgiven.⁴³ You have covered Yourself with anger, || And pursue us; You have slain—You have not pitied.⁴⁴ You have covered Yourself with a cloud, || So that prayer does not pass through.⁴⁵ Outcast and refuse You make us || In the midst of the peoples.⁴⁶ Opened against us their mouth have all our enemies.⁴⁷ Fear and a snare has been for us, || Desolation and destruction.⁴⁸ Streams of water go down my eye, || For the destruction of the daughter of my people.⁴⁹ My eye is poured out, || And does not cease without intermission,⁵⁰ Until YHWH looks and sees from the heavens,⁵¹ My eye affects my soul, || Because of all the daughters of my city.⁵² Hunting—my enemies have hunted me without cause like the bird.⁵³ They have cut off my life in a pit, || And they cast a stone against me.⁵⁴ Waters have flowed over my head, I have said, I have been cut off.

⁵⁵ I called Your Name, O YHWH, from the lower pit.⁵⁶ You have heard my voice, do not hide Your ear at my breathing—at my cry.⁵⁷ You have drawn near in the day I call You, You have said, Do not fear.⁵⁸ You have pleaded, O Lord, the pleadings of my soul, || You have redeemed my life.⁵⁹ You have seen, O YHWH, my overthrow, || Judge my cause.⁶⁰ You have seen all their vengeance, || All their thoughts of me.⁶¹ You have heard their reproach, O YHWH, || All their thoughts against me,⁶² The lips of my withstanders, || Even their meditation against me all the day.⁶³ Their sitting down, and their rising up, || Behold attentively, I [am] their song.⁶⁴ You return to them the deed, O YHWH, || According to the work of their hands.⁶⁵ You give to them a covered heart, || Your curse to them.⁶⁶ You pursue in anger, and destroy them, || From under the heavens of YHWH!