for I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me.
I fade away like an evening shadow. I am shaken off like a locust.
I have also become a reproach to them. When they see me, they shake their head.
He raises up the poor out of the dust. Lifts up the needy from the ash heap;
The cords of death surrounded me, the pains of Sheol got a hold of me. I found trouble and sorrow.
Yahweh preserves the simple. I was brought low, and he saved me.
I believed, therefore I said, “I was greatly afflicted.”
Precious in Yahweh’s sight is the death of his saints.
Yah has punished me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
Take reproach and contempt away from me, for I have kept your statutes.
Though princes sit and slander me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word!
My soul is weary with sorrow: strengthen me according to your word.
This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has revived me.
The arrogant mock me excessively, but I don’t swerve from your law.
The ropes of the wicked bind me, but I won’t forget your law.
Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I observe your word.
The proud have smeared a lie upon me. With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.
Yahweh, I know that your judgments are righteous, that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
Let the proud be disappointed, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on your precepts.
My eyes fail for your word. I say, “When will you comfort me?”
For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke. I don’t forget your statutes.
How many are the days of your servant? When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?
The proud have dug pits for me, contrary to your law.
All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me!
They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I didn’t forsake your precepts.
Unless your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
I am afflicted very much. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your word.
My soul is continually in my hand, yet I won’t forget your law.
Ensure your servant’s well-being. Don’t let the proud oppress me.
My eyes fail looking for your salvation, for your righteous word.
Redeem me from the oppression of man, so I will observe your precepts.
Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law. TZADI
My zeal wears me out, because my enemies ignore your words.
I am small and despised. I don’t forget your precepts.
Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me. Your commandments are my delight.
Consider my affliction, and deliver me, for I don’t forget your law.
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven’t swerved from your testimonies.
In my distress, I cried to Yahweh. He answered me.
Woe is me, that I live in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
My soul has had her dwelling too long with him who hates peace.
Have mercy on us, Yahweh, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.
Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.
Those who sow in tears will reap in joy.
He who goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing, will certainly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves.
Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say,
many times they have afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.
The plowers plowed on my back. They made their furrows long.
Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up;
Out of the depths I have cried to you, Yahweh.
Yahweh, remember David and all his affliction,
Who remembered us in our low estate; for his loving kindness endures forever;
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
On the willows in that land, we hung up our harps.
For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
How can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land?
Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.
Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me.
I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy.
“As when one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.”
I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my route. On the path in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.
Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul.
Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than me.
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will be good to me.
For the enemy pursues my soul. He has struck my life down to the ground. He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is desolate.
Hurry to answer me, Yahweh. My spirit fails. Don’t hide your face from me, so that I don’t become like those who go down into the pit.
Revive me, Yahweh, for your name’s sake. In your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.
You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,
He will get wounds and dishonor. His reproach will not be wiped away.
The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; no one will support him.
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish; and wine to the bitter in soul:
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.
Then I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.












