1. I am one who has known afflictionunder the rod of God’s anger,
2. One whom he has driven and forced to walkin darkness, not in light;
3. Against me alone he turns his hand—again and again all day long.
4. He has worn away my flesh and my skin,he has broken my bones;
5. He has besieged me all aroundwith poverty and hardship;
6. He has left me to dwell in dark placeslike those long dead.
7. He has hemmed me in with no escape,weighed me down with chains;
8. Even when I cry for help,he stops my prayer;
9. He has hemmed in my ways with fitted stones,and made my paths crooked.
10. He has been a bear lying in wait for me,a lion in hiding!
11. He turned me aside and tore me apart,leaving me ravaged.