1Aleph. I am the man, that (thorow the rod of his wrath) have experience of misery.
2He drove me forth, and led me: yea into darkness, but not in to light.
3Against me only he turneth his hand, and layeth it ever upon me.
4Beth. My flesh and my skin hath he made old, my bones hath he bruised.
5He hath builded round about me, and closed me in with gall and travail.
6He hath set me in darkness, as they that be dead for ever.
7Gimel. He hath so hedged me in, that I can not get out, and hath laid heavy links upon me.
8Though I cry and call piteously, yet heareth he not my prayer.
9He hath stopped up my ways with four square stones, and made my paths crooked.
10Daleth. He layeth wait for me like a Bear, and as a lion in a hole.
11He hath marred my ways, and broken me in pieces: he hath laid me waste altogether.
12He hath bent his bow, and made me as it were a mark to shoot at.
13He. The arrows of his quiver hath he shot, even into my reins.
14I am laughed to scorn of all my people, they make songs upon me all the day long.
15He hath filled me with bitterness, and given me wormwood to drink.
16Vau. He hath smitten my teeth in pieces, and rolled me in the dust.
17He hath put my soul out of rest, I forget all good things.
18I thought in myself: I am undone, there is no hope for me in the LORD.
19Zain. O remember yet my misery and my trouble, the wormwood and the gall.
20Yea thou shalt remember them, for my soul melteth away in me.
21While I consider these things in my heart, I get a hope again.
22CHeth. Namely, that the mercies of the LORD are not clean gone, and that his loving-kindness ceaseth not.
23His faithfulness is great and reneweth it self as the morning.
24The LORD is my portion, sayeth my soul, therefore will I hope in him.
25Teth. O how good is the LORD unto them that put their trust in him, and to the soul that seeketh after him?
26O how good is it with stillness to wait and tarry, for the health of the LORD.
27O how good is it for a man, to take the yoke upon him from his youth up.
28Iod. He sitteth alone, he holdeth him still, and dwelleth quietly by himself.
29He layeth his face upon the earth, if (percase) there happen to be any hope.
30He offereth his cheek to the smiter, he will be content with reproves.
31Caph. For the Lord(LORDE) will not forsake for ever.
32But though he do cast off, yet according to the multitude of his mercies, he receiveth to grace again.
33For he doth not plague, and cast out the children of men from his heart.
34Lamed. To tread all the prisoners of the earth under his feet.
35To move the judgement of man before the most highest.
36To condemn a man in his cause; The Lord(LORDE) hath no pleasure in such things.
37Mem. What is he then that sayeth: there should something be done without the Lord's(LORDES) commandment:
38Out of the mouth of the most Highest goeth not evil and good?
39Wherefore then murmureth the living man: let him murmur at his own sin.
40Nun. Let us look well upon our own ways, and remember ourselves, and turn again to the LORD.
41Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto the Lord(God) that is in heaven.
42We have been dissemblers, and have offended, will thou therefore not be intreated?
43Samech. Thou hast covered us in thy wrath, and persecuted us, thou hast slain us, without any favour.
44Thou hast hid thyself in a cloud, that our prayer should not go thorow.
45Thou hast made us outcasts, and to be despised among the Heathen.
46Ain. All our enemies gape upon us.
47Fear and snare is come upon us, yea despite and destruction.
48Whole rivers of water gush out of mine eyes, for the great hurt of my people.
49Phe. Mine eyes run, and can not cease, for there is no rest.
50O LORD, when will thou look down from heaven, and consider.
51Mine eye breaketh my heart, because of all the daughters of my city.
52Zade. Mine enemies hunted me out sharply, like a bird, yea and that without a cause.
53They have put down my life into a pit, and laid a stone upon me.
54They poured water upon my head, then thought I: now am I undone.
55Koph. I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the deep pit.
56Thou hast heard my voice, and hast not turned away thine ears from my sighing and crying.
57Thou hast inclined thy self unto me, when I called upon thee, and haste said: fear not.
58Res. Thou (O Lord),(LORDE) hast maintained the cause of my soul, and hast redeemed my life.
59O LORD, thou hast seen my blasphemers, take thou my cause upon thee.
60Thou hast well considered how they go about to do me harm, and that all their counsels are against me.
61Sin. Thou hast heard their despiteful words (O LORD), yea and all their imaginations against me.
62The lips of mine enemies, and their devices that they take against me, all the day long.
63Thou seest also their sitting down and their rising up, they make their songs of nothing but me.
64Thau. Reward them, (O LORD), according to the work of their hands.
65Give them the thing, that their own heart is afraid of: even thy curse.
66Persecute them (O LORD) with thine indignation, and root them out from under the heaven.