1“But now men that are younger than I mock me - men whose fathers I would have refused to entrust with my sheep dogs. 2What good was the strength of their hands to me, since their strength perished in their old age? 3Emaciated from poverty and hunger, they fled alone; into the desolate wilderness in the night. 4They plucked wild greens (mallows) from among the bushes, and juniper roots for their food. 5They were driven (banished) from human society, shouted at as if they were thieves. 6They were forced to live in the clefts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks. 7They brayed like animals as they huddled together among the bushes; under the nettles. 8They were sons of fools, yes, children of base men; even more vile than the earth.

9“And now I am mocked as a byword of their vulgar songs. 10They detest me, they keep their distance from me, but come to spit in my face. 11Because He has unstrung my bow, and afflicted me, they have also thrown off all restraint in my presence. 12On my right hand rise brash youth; they entangle my feet, and they set traps for my destruction. 13They clutter my path, they promote my calamity, they need no helper. 14They came upon me as a wide torrent of waters; in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me. 15I live with terror now; they pursue my soul like the wind, and my welfare passes away like a cloud.

16“And now my soul fades within me; the days of affliction grip me. 17At night all my bones ache; and the pain in my sinews never eases. 18By a great force of my disease is my garment twisted; it binds about me like the collar of my coat. 19He has thrown me into the mud, and I am reduced to dust and ashes. 20I cry unto You, God, but You do not answer; I stand up, and You pay me no attention. 21You have become cruel to me; with Your strong hand You persecute me. 22You lift me up to the wind; You cause me to be blown about, and devastated. 23For I know that You will bring about my death, and bring me to the grave that all the living are destined for.

24“However, he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction. 25Have I not wept for those in trouble? Was my soul not grieved for the poor? 26When I hoped for good, evil came to me; and when I looked for light, there came darkness. 27My heart was in turmoil, without rest; days of affliction confronted me. 28I went mourning without comfort; I stood up and cried for help in the congregation. 29I have become a brother of jackals, and a companion of owls. 30My skin has turned black, and my body burns with fever. 31My harp plays mournful sounds, and my flute the sound of wailing.