1But now [they that are] younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. 2Yea, whereto [might] the strength of their hands [profit] me, in whom old age was perished? 3For pouertie and famine they were solitary, fleeing into the wildernes, which is darke, desolate and waste. 4They cut vp nettels by the bushes, & the iuniper rootes was their meate. 5They were driven forth from among [men], (they cried after them as [after] a thief;) 6Therfore they dwelt in the clefts of riuers, in the holes of the earth and rockes. 7They roared among the bushes, and vnder the thistles they gathered themselues. 8They were the children of fooles and the children of villaines, which were more vile then the earth. 9And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword. 10They abhorre me, & flee farre from mee, and spare not to spit in my face. 11Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me. 12Upon [my] right [hand] rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction. 13They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper. 14They came [upon me] as a wide breaking in [of waters]: in the desolation they rolled themselves [upon me]. 15Feare is turned vpon mee: and they pursue my soule as the winde, and mine health passeth away as a cloude. 16And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me. 17My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest. 18For the great vehemencie is my garment changed, which compasseth me about as the colar of my coate. 19He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes. 20Whe I cry vnto thee, thou doest not heare me, neither regardest me, when I stand vp. 21Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me. 22Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride [upon it], and dissolvest my substance. 23Surely I knowe that thou wilt bring mee to death, and to the house appoynted for all the liuing. 24Howbeit he will not stretch out [his] hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction. 25Did not I weepe with him that was in trouble? was not my soule in heauinesse for the poore? 26When I looked for good, then evil came [unto me]: and when I waited for light, there came darkness. 27My bowels did boyle without rest: for the dayes of affliction are come vpon me. 28I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, [and] I cried in the congregation. 29I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. 30My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat. 31Therefore mine harpe is turned to mourning, and mine organs into the voyce of them that weepe.