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