1-3. I’m the man who has seen trouble,trouble coming from the lash of God’s anger.He took me by the hand and walked meinto pitch-black darkness.Yes, he’s given me the back of his handover and over and over again.
4-6. He turned me into a scarecrowof skin and bones, then broke the bones.He hemmed me in, ganged up on me,poured on the trouble and hard times.He locked me up in deep darkness,like a corpse nailed inside a coffin.
7-9. He shuts me in so I’ll never get out,manacles my hands, shackles my feet.Even when I cry out and plead for help,he locks up my prayers and throws away the key.He sets up blockades with quarried limestone.He’s got me cornered.
10-12. He’s a prowling bear tracking me down,a lion in hiding ready to pounce.He knocked me from the path and ripped me to pieces.When he finished, there was nothing left of me.He took out his bow and arrowsand used me for target practice.
13-15. He shot me in the stomachwith arrows from his quiver.Everyone took me for a joke,made me the butt of their mocking ballads.He forced rotten, stinking food down my throat,bloated me with vile drinks.