16. He has broken my teeth with gravel;he has trampled me in the dust.
17. I have been deprived of peace;I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18. So I say, ‘My splendour is goneand all that I had hoped from the Lord.’
19. I remember my affliction and my wandering,the bitterness and the gall.
20. I well remember them,and my soul is downcast within me.
21. Yet this I call to mindand therefore I have hope:
22. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail.
23. They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness.
24. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him.’
25. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,to the one who seeks him;
26. it is good to wait quietlyfor the salvation of the Lord.
27. It is good for a man to bear the yokewhile he is young.
28. Let him sit alone in silence,for the Lord has laid it on him.
29. Let him bury his face in the dust –there may yet be hope.
30. Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,and let him be filled with disgrace.
31. For no one is cast offby the Lord for ever.
32. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,so great is his unfailing love.
33. For he does not willingly bring afflictionor grief to anyone.
34. To crush underfootall prisoners in the land,
35. to deny people their rightsbefore the Most High,
36. to deprive them of justice –would not the Lord see such things?