66 Books

¹ Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock. ² Their vigor has perished. ³ Fleeing late to the wilderness, desolate and waste, ⁴ And broom tree roots for their food. ⁵ They shouted at them as at a thief. ⁶ In caves of the earth and the rocks. ⁷ Under the nettles they nestled. ⁸ They were scourged from the land. ⁹ Yes, I am their byword. ¹⁰ They do not hesitate to spit in my face. ¹¹ They have cast off restraint before me. ¹² And they raise against me their ways of destruction. ¹³ They have no helper. ¹⁴ Under the ruinous storm they roll along. ¹⁵ And my prosperity has passed like a cloud. ¹⁶ The days of affliction take hold of me. ¹⁷ And my gnawing pains take no rest. ¹⁸ It binds me about as the collar of my coat. ¹⁹ And I have become like dust and ashes. ²⁰ I stand up, and You regard me. ²¹ With the strength of Your hand You oppose me. ²² You spoil my success. ²³ And to the house appointed for all living. ²⁴ If they cry out when He destroys it. ²⁵ Has not my soul grieved for the poor? ²⁶ And when I waited for light, then came darkness. ²⁷ Days of affliction confront me. ²⁸ I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help. ²⁹ And a companion of ostriches. ³⁰ My bones burn with fever. ³¹ And my flute to the voice of those who weep.