1 ALEPH-BET I am the man who has seen affliction || By the rod of His wrath. 2 He has led me, and causes to go in darkness, and without light. 3 Surely against me He turns back, || He turns His hand all the day. 4 He has worn out my flesh and my skin. He has broken my bones. 5 He has built up against me, || And sets around poverty and weariness. 6 In dark places He has caused me to dwell, || As the dead of old. 7 He has hedged me in, and I do not go out, || He has made heavy my chain. 8 Also when I call and cry out, || He has shut out my prayer. 9 He has hedged my ways with hewn work, || My paths He has made crooked. 10 A bear lying in wait He is to me, || A lion in secret hiding places. 11 My ways He is turning aside, and He pulls me in pieces, || He has made me a desolation. 12 He has bent His bow, || And sets me up as a mark for an arrow. 13 He has caused to enter into my reins || The sons of His quiver. 14 I have been a derision to all my people, || Their song all the day. 15 He has filled me with bitter things, || He has filled me with wormwood. 16 And He breaks with gravel my teeth, || He has covered me with ashes. 17 And You cast off my soul from peace, || I have forgotten prosperity. 18 And I say, My strength and my hope have perished from YHWH. 19 Remember my affliction and my mourning, || Wormwood and gall! 20 Remember well, and my soul bows down in me. 21 This I turn to my heart—therefore I hope. 22 The kindnesses of YHWH! For we have not been consumed, || For His mercies have not ended. 23 New every morning, abundant is Your faithfulness. 24 My portion is YHWH, my soul has said, || Therefore I hope for Him. 25 YHWH is good to those waiting for Him, || To the soul that seeks Him. 26 It is good when one waits and stands still || For the salvation of YHWH. 27 It is good for a man that he bears a yoke in his youth. 28 He sits alone, and is silent, || For He has laid it on him. 29 He puts his mouth in the dust, if so be, there is hope. 30 He gives to his striker the cheek, || He is filled with reproach. 31 For the Lord does not cast off to a distant age. 32 For though He afflicted, yet He has pitied, || According to the abundance of His kindness. 33 For He has not afflicted with His heart, || Nor does He grieve the sons of men. 34 To bruise under one’s feet any bound ones of earth, 35 To turn aside the judgment of a man, || Before the face of the Most High, 36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord has not approved. 37 Who is this—he has spoken, and it is, || And the Lord has not commanded it? 38 From the mouth of the Most High does not go out the evils and the good. 39 Why does a living man sigh habitually, || A man for his sin? 40 We search our ways, and investigate, || And turn back to YHWH. 41 We lift up our heart on the hands to God in the heavens. 42 We have transgressed and been rebellious, || You have not forgiven. 43 You have covered Yourself with anger, || And pursue us; You have slain—You have not pitied. 44 You have covered Yourself with a cloud, || So that prayer does not pass through. 45 Outcast and refuse You make us || In the midst of the peoples. 46 Opened against us their mouth have all our enemies. 47 Fear and a snare has been for us, || Desolation and destruction. 48 Streams of water go down my eye, || For the destruction of the daughter of my people. 49 My eye is poured out, || And does not cease without intermission, 50 Until YHWH looks and sees from the heavens, 51 My eye affects my soul, || Because of all the daughters of my city. 52 Hunting—my enemies have hunted me without cause like the bird. 53 They have cut off my life in a pit, || And they cast a stone against me. 54 Waters have flowed over my head, I have said, I have been cut off. 55 I called Your Name, O YHWH, from the lower pit. 56 You have heard my voice, do not hide Your ear at my breathing—at my cry. 57 You have drawn near in the day I call You, You have said, Do not fear. 58 You have pleaded, O Lord, the pleadings of my soul, || You have redeemed my life. 59 You have seen, O YHWH, my overthrow, || Judge my cause. 60 You have seen all their vengeance, || All their thoughts of me. 61 You have heard their reproach, O YHWH, || All their thoughts against me, 62 The lips of my withstanders, || Even their meditation against me all the day. 63 Their sitting down, and their rising up, || Behold attentively, I am their song. 64 You return to them the deed, O YHWH, || According to the work of their hands. 65 You give to them a covered heart, || Your curse to them. 66 You pursue in anger, and destroy them, || From under the heavens of YHWH!