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[ALEPH-BET] I [am] the man [who] has seen affliction || By the rod of His wrath.
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He has led me, and causes to go [in] darkness, and without light.
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Surely against me He turns back, || He turns His hand all the day.
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He has worn out my flesh and my skin. He has broken my bones.
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He has built up against me, || And sets around poverty and weariness.
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In dark places He has caused me to dwell, || As the dead of old.
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He has hedged me in, and I do not go out, || He has made heavy my chain.
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Also when I call and cry out, || He has shut out my prayer.
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He has hedged my ways with hewn work, || My paths He has made crooked.
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A bear lying in wait He [is] to me, || A lion in secret hiding places.
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My ways He is turning aside, and He pulls me in pieces, || He has made me a desolation.
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He has bent His bow, || And sets me up as a mark for an arrow.
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He has caused to enter into my reins || The sons of His quiver.
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I have been a derision to all my people, || Their song all the day.
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He has filled me with bitter things, || He has filled me [with] wormwood.
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And He breaks with gravel my teeth, || He has covered me with ashes.
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And You cast off my soul from peace, || I have forgotten prosperity.
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And I say, My strength and my hope have perished from YHWH.
The Prophet’s Hope
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Remember my affliction and my mourning, || Wormwood and gall!
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Remember well, and my soul bows down in me.
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This I turn to my heart—therefore I hope.
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The kindnesses of YHWH! For we have not been consumed, || For His mercies have not ended.
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New every morning, abundant [is] Your faithfulness.
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My portion [is] YHWH, my soul has said, || Therefore I hope for Him.
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YHWH [is] good to those waiting for Him, || To the soul [that] seeks Him.
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[It is] good when one stays and stands still || For the salvation of YHWH.
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[It is] good for a man that he bears a yoke in his youth.
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He sits alone, and is silent, || For He has laid [it] on him.
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He puts his mouth in the dust, if so be, there is hope.
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He gives to his striker the cheek, || He is filled with reproach.
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For the Lord does not cast off for all time.
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For though He afflicted, yet He has pitied, || According to the abundance of His kindness.
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For He has not afflicted with His heart, || Nor does He grieve the sons of men.
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To bruise under one’s feet any bound ones of earth,
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To turn aside the judgment of a man, || Before the face of the Most High,
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To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord has not approved.
God’s Justice
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Who [is] this—he has spoken, and it is, || [And] the Lord has not commanded [it]?
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From the mouth of the Most High does not go forth the evils and the good.
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Why does a living man sigh habitually, || A man for his sin?
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We search our ways, and investigate, || And turn back to YHWH.
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We lift up our heart on the hands to God in the heavens.
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We have transgressed and been rebellious, || You have not forgiven.
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You have covered Yourself with anger, || And pursue us; You have slain—You have not pitied.
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You have covered Yourself with a cloud, || So that prayer does not pass through.
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Outcast and refuse You make us || In the midst of the peoples.
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Opened against us their mouth have all our enemies.
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Fear and a snare has been for us, || Desolation and destruction.
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Streams of water go down my eye, || For the destruction of the daughter of my people.
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My eye is poured out, || And does not cease without intermission,
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Until YHWH looks and sees from the heavens,
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My eye affects my soul, || Because of all the daughters of my city.
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Hunting—my enemies have hunted me without cause like the bird.
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They have cut off my life in a pit, || And they cast a stone against me.
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Waters have flowed over my head, I have said, I have been cut off.
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I called Your Name, O YHWH, from the lower pit.
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You have heard my voice, do not hide Your ear at my breathing—at my cry.
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You have drawn near in the day I call You, You have said, Do not fear.
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You have pleaded, O Lord, the pleadings of my soul, || You have redeemed my life.
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You have seen, O YHWH, my overthrow, || Judge my cause.
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You have seen all their vengeance, || All their thoughts of me.
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You have heard their reproach, O YHWH, || All their thoughts against me,
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The lips of my withstanders, || Even their meditation against me all the day.
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Their sitting down, and their rising up, || Behold attentively, I [am] their song.
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You return to them the deed, O YHWH, || According to the work of their hands.
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You give to them a covered heart, || Your curse to them.
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You pursue in anger, and destroy them, || From under the heavens of YHWH!
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