1 "But now those who are younger than I have me in derision,
whose fathers I considered unworthy to put with my sheep dogs.
2 Of what use is the strength of their hands to me,
men in whom ripe age has perished?
3 They are gaunt from lack and famine.
They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of waste and desolation.
4 They pluck salt herbs by the bushes.
The roots of the broom tree are their food.
5 They are driven out from among men.
They cry after them as after a thief,
6 so that they live in frightful valleys,
and in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 They bray among the bushes.
They are gathered together under the nettles.
8 They are children of fools, yes, children of wicked men.
They were flogged out of the land.
9 "Now I have become their song.
Yes, I am a byword to them.
10 They abhor me, they stand aloof from me,
and don’t hesitate to spit in my face.
11 For he has untied his cord, and afflicted me;
and they have thrown off restraint before me.
12 On my right hand rise the rabble.
They thrust aside my feet.
They cast their ways of destruction up against me.
13 They mar my path.
They promote my destruction
without anyone’s help.
14 As through a wide breach they come.
They roll themselves in amid the ruin.
15 Terrors have turned on me.
They chase my honor as the wind.
My welfare has passed away as a cloud.
16 "Now my soul is poured out within me.
Days of affliction have taken hold of me.
17 In the night season my bones are pierced in me,
and the pains that gnaw me take no rest.
18 My garment is disfigured by great force.
It binds me about as the collar of my tunic.
19 He has cast me into the mire.
I have become like dust and ashes.
20 I cry to you, and you do not answer me.
I stand up, and you gaze at me.
21 You have turned to be cruel to me.
With the might of your hand you persecute me.
22 You lift me up to the wind, and drive me with it.
You dissolve me in the storm.
23 For I know that you will bring me to death,
to the house appointed for all living.
24 "However doesn’t one stretch out a hand in his fall?
Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?
25 Didn’t I weep for him who was in trouble?
Wasn’t my soul grieved for the needy?
26 When I looked for good, then evil came.
When I waited for light, darkness came.
27 My heart is troubled, and doesn’t rest.
Days of affliction have come on me.
28 I go mourning without the sun.
I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.
29 I am a brother to jackals,
and a companion to ostriches.
30 My skin grows black and peels from me.
My bones are burned with heat.
31 Therefore my harp has turned to mourning,
and my pipe into the voice of those who weep.
1 "但现在年纪比我小的人都笑我； 我不容许他们的父亲与我羊群的犬只为伴。
2 他们的气力已经衰退了， 他们两手的力量对我有什么益处呢？
3 他们因穷乏与饥饿而消瘦， 在黑夜荒废与荒凉之地咀嚼旷野的干草；
4 他们在草丛中采摘咸草， 以罗腾树根作食物。
5 他们从人群中被赶出去， 人追喊他们如追喊贼一样，
6 以致他们住在惊吓谷之中， 在地洞和岩穴之间；
7 他们在草丛中间喊叫， 在杂草之下集合起来。
8 他们都是愚顽人、下流人的子孙， 被人鞭打逐出境外。
9 现在他们以我为歌曲， 我竟成了他们的笑柄。
10 他们厌恶我， 远远地离开我， 又不住吐唾沫在我脸上，
11 因为 神把我的弓弦松开， 叫我受苦， 他们就在我面前任意妄为。
12 一窝暴民在我右边兴起， 推开我的脚， 筑起灾难的路攻击我。
13 他们拆毁了我的路， 没有别人的帮助也能毁灭我；
14 他们闯进来如闯大破口， 在废墟之中辊过来，
15 惊骇临到我的身上， 驱逐我的尊严如风吹一般， 我的好景像云一样过去。
16 现在我的心伤恸有如倒了出来， 苦难的日子把我抓住。
17 夜间痛苦刺透我的骨头， 疼痛不止， 不住地咀嚼我。
18 我的衣服因 神的大力变了形， 他的大力如外衣的领口把我束紧。
19 神把我扔在泥中， 我就像尘土和炉灰一般。
20 神啊！ 我向你呼求， 你却不应允我， 我站起来， 你也不理我。
21 你变成待我残忍， 用你大能的手迫害我，
22 你把我提到风中， 使我被风刮去， 使我在暴风中消散。
23 我知道你必使我归回死地， 归到那为众生所定的阴宅。
24 然而人跌倒， 怎会不伸手？人遇灾祸， 怎会不呼救呢？
25 艰难过日的， 我不是为他哀哭； 贫穷的， 我不是为他忧愁吗？
26 我希望得福乐， 灾祸就来了； 我等候光明， 幽暗就到了。
27 我的心肠沸腾、不安， 痛苦的日子临到我。
28 我四处行走， 全身发黑， 并不是因为日晒； 我在会中站着呼求。
29 我与野狗为兄弟， 又与鸵鸟作同伴。
30 我的皮肤发黑脱落， 我的骨头因热发烧，
31 所以我的琴音变为哀音， 我的箫声变为哭声。"