- 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.
|