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v1
I am a man who has seen misery, under the rod of his wrath.
v2
He has driven me along, he brought darkness and not light.
v3
Surely he has turned his hand against me, all day long.
v4
He has worn out my flesh and skin, he has broken my bones.
v5
He has besieged ^[Literally “he has built against”] and engulfed me with bitterness and hardship.
v6
In darkness he has let me dwell like the dead of long ago.
v7
He has built a wall around me, I cannot go out; he has made my bronze fetters heavy.
v8
Though I cry out for help, he shuts out my prayers.
v9
He has blocked my ways with dressed stones; he has made my paths crooked.
v10
To me he is like a bear lying in wait, a lion in hiding.
v11
He has forsaken my way and torn me to pieces; he has caused me desolation.
v12
He has bent his bow and set me as the target for the arrow.
v13
He shot the arrows of his quiver ^[Literally “the offspring of his arrow quiver”] into my kidneys.
v14
I have become a laughingstock for all the people, their mocking song all day long.
v15
He has filled me with bitterness, he has drenched me with wormwood.
v16
He has broken my teeth on grit, he has trampled me down in ash.
v17
My life has been removed from peace, I have forgotten goodness.
v18
And I have said, “My glory is ruined, my expectation from Yahweh.”
v19
Remember my misery and bitterness, the wormwood ^[Or “the bitter substance”] and venom!
v20
Surely my soul remembers and bows down within me.
v21
This I have reminded myself, ^[Literally “I have brought back to my heart”] therefore I will hope.
v22
The loyal love of Yahweh does not cease; his compassions do not come to an end.
v23
They are new in the morning, great is your faithfulness.
v24
“Yahweh is my portion,” says my soul, “Thus I will hope on him.”
v25
Yahweh is good to those who wait on him, to the person that seeks him.
v26
It is good to wait in silence for the salvation of Yahweh.
v27
It is good for a man who carries the yoke of his childhood.
v28
Let him sit alone and be silent when he ^[Yahweh] has laid it on him.
v29
Let him put ^[Literally “him give”] his mouth in the dust; perhaps there is hope.
v30
Let him give a cheek to his smiter, let him be filled with disgrace.
v31
For the Lord will not reject forever.
v32
For even though he causes grief he has compassion according to the greatness of his royal love.
v33
He does not afflict willingly, ^[Literally “afflict from the heart”] or grieve anyone. ^[Literally “the sons of men”]
v34
To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth;
v35
to deprive one of justice ^[Literally “to turn aside the judgment of a man”] before the face of the Most High;
v36
to subvert a person in a legal dispute —the Lord has not found delight in these things.
v37
Who can speak ^[Literally “Who is this that speaks”] and it will happen if the Lord has not commanded it?
v38
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that disaster and good will come?
v39
Why should any living person complain about his sin?
v40
Let us test and examine our ways; let us return to Yahweh.
v41
Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the heavens.
v42
We ourselves have transgressed and rebelled, you have not forgiven.
v43
You have covered yourself in anger ^[Literally “in the nose”] and pursued us, you have slain and not shown mercy.
v44
You have covered yourself in a cloud so that prayer cannot pass through. ^[Literally “from a passing prayer”]
v45
You have made us scum and refuse in the midst of the nations.
v46
All our enemies have opened their mouth against us.
v47
Fear and a pit have come upon us, desolation and destruction.
v48
Channels of water run down my eyes because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.
v49
My eyes have poured down unceasingly without respite,
v50
until Yahweh looks down and sees from heaven.
v51
My eyes inflict my soul because of all the daughters of my city.
v52
My enemies hunt me without cause, like a bird.
v53
They have silenced me in a pit, ^[Literally “they have put to silence my life in a pit”] they have thrown a stone at me.
v54
Water has flown over my head, I said, “I am cut off.”
v55
I have called your name, O Yahweh, from the depths of the pit.
v56
You have heard my cry, “Do not shut your ear to my cry for help, for my relief!“
v57
You came near on a day when I called you, you said, “Do not fear!“
v58
O Lord, you have pleaded for my cause, ^[Literally “the legal disputes of my soul”] you have redeemed my life.
v59
You have seen my injustice, O Yahweh; judge my case.
v60
You have seen all their vengeance, all there plans against me.
v61
You have heard their disgrace, O Yahweh, all their plans against me.
v62
The lips and meditation of my assailants are against me all day long.
v63
Look at their sitting and their standing, I am their mocking song.
v64
Return to them what is deserved, O Yahweh, according to the work of their hands.
v65
Give them a stubborn heart; curse them!
v66
Pursue them in anger ^[Literally “in nose”] and destroy them from under the heavens of Yahweh.