Page:JPS-1917-Universal.djvu/961

Rh :But now He hath made me weary;
 * Thou hast made desolate all my company.
 * And Thou hast shrivelled me up, which is a witness against me;
 * And my leanness riseth up against me, it testifieth to my face.
 * He hath torn me in His wrath, and hated me;
 * He hath gnashed upon me with His teeth;
 * Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
 * They have gaped upon me with their mouth;
 * They have smitten me upon the cheek scornfully;
 * They gather themselves together against me.
 * God delivereth me to the ungodly,
 * And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
 * I was at ease, and He broke me asunder;
 * Yea, He hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces;
 * He hath also set me up for His mark.
 * His archers compass me round about,
 * He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare;
 * He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
 * He breaketh me with breach upon breach;
 * He runneth upon me like a giant.
 * I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin,
 * And have laid my horn in the dust.
 * My face is reddened with weeping,
 * And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
 * Although there is no violence in my hands,
 * And my prayer is pure.
 * O earth, cover not thou my blood,
 * And let my cry have no resting-place.
 * Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven,
 * And He that testifieth of me is on high.
 * Mine inward thoughts are my intercessors,
 * Mine eye poureth out tears unto God;
 * That He would set aright a man contending with God,
 * As a son of man setteth aright his neighbour!
 * For the years that are few are coming on,
 * And I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
 * My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct,
 * The grave is ready for me.
 * Surely there are mockers with me,
 * And mine eye abideth in their provocation.
 * Give now a pledge, be surety for me with Thyself;
 * Who else is there that will strike hands with me?
 * For Thou hast hid their heart from understanding;
 * Therefore shalt Thou not exalt them.
 * He that denounceth his friends for the sake of flattery,
 * Even the eyes of his children shall fail.


 * He hath made me also a byword of the people;
 * And I am become one in whose face they spit.
 * Mine eye also is dimmed by reason of vexation,
 * And all my members are as a shadow.
 * Upright men are astonished at this,