| New International Version | New International Version |
| 1"But now they mock me, men younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs. | 1"But now they mock me, men younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs. |
| 2Of what use was the strength of their hands to me, since their vigor had gone from them? | 2Of what use was the strength of their hands to me, since their vigor had gone from them? |
| 3Haggard from want and hunger, they roamed the parched land in desolate wastelands at night. | 3Haggard from want and hunger, they roamed the parched land in desolate wastelands at night. |
| 4In the brush they gathered salt herbs, and their food was the root of the broom bush. | 4In the brush they gathered salt herbs, and their food was the root of the broom bush. |
| 5They were banished from human society, shouted at as if they were thieves. | 5They were banished from human society, shouted at as if they were thieves. |
| 6They were forced to live in the dry stream beds, among the rocks and in holes in the ground. | 6They were forced to live in the dry stream beds, among the rocks and in holes in the ground. |
| 7They brayed among the bushes and huddled in the undergrowth. | 7They brayed among the bushes and huddled in the undergrowth. |
| 8A base and nameless brood, they were driven out of the land. | 8A base and nameless brood, they were driven out of the land. |
| 9"And now those young men mock me in song; I have become a byword among them. | 9"And now those young men mock me in song; I have become a byword among them. |
| 10They detest me and keep their distance; they do not hesitate to spit in my face. | 10They detest me and keep their distance; they do not hesitate to spit in my face. |
| 11Now that God has unstrung my bow and afflicted me, they throw off restraint in my presence. | 11Now that God has unstrung my bow and afflicted me, they throw off restraint in my presence. |
| 12On my right the tribe attacks; they lay snares for my feet, they build their siege ramps against me. | 12On my right the tribe attacks; they lay snares for my feet, they build their siege ramps against me. |
| 13They break up my road; they succeed in destroying me. 'No one can help him,' they say. | 13They break up my road; they succeed in destroying me. 'No one can help him,' they say. |
| 14They advance as through a gaping breach; amid the ruins they come rolling in. | 14They advance as through a gaping breach; amid the ruins they come rolling in. |
| 15Terrors overwhelm me; my dignity is driven away as by the wind, my safety vanishes like a cloud. | 15Terrors overwhelm me; my dignity is driven away as by the wind, my safety vanishes like a cloud. |
| 16"And now my life ebbs away; days of suffering grip me. | 16"And now my life ebbs away; days of suffering grip me. |
| 17Night pierces my bones; my gnawing pains never rest. | 17Night pierces my bones; my gnawing pains never rest. |
| 18In his great power God becomes like clothing to me; he binds me like the neck of my garment. | 18In his great power God becomes like clothing to me; he binds me like the neck of my garment. |
| 19He throws me into the mud, and I am reduced to dust and ashes. | 19He throws me into the mud, and I am reduced to dust and ashes. |
| 20"I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me. | 20"I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me. |
| 21You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of your hand you attack me. | 21You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of your hand you attack me. |
| 22You snatch me up and drive me before the wind; you toss me about in the storm. | 22You snatch me up and drive me before the wind; you toss me about in the storm. |
| 23I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living. | 23I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living. |
| 24"Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man when he cries for help in his distress. | 24"Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man when he cries for help in his distress. |
| 25Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor? | 25Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor? |
| 26Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness. | 26Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness. |
| 27The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me. | 27The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me. |
| 28I go about blackened, but not by the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help. | 28I go about blackened, but not by the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help. |
| 29I have become a brother of jackals, a companion of owls. | 29I have become a brother of jackals, a companion of owls. |
| 30My skin grows black and peels; my body burns with fever. | 30My skin grows black and peels; my body burns with fever. |
| 31My lyre is tuned to mourning, and my pipe to the sound of wailing. | 31My lyre is tuned to mourning, and my pipe to the sound of wailing. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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