1
וְעַתָּה שָׂחֲקוּ עָלַי צְעִירִים מִמֶּנִּי לְיָמִים אֲשֶׁר־מָאַסְתִּי אֲבוֹתָם לָשִׁית עִם־כַּלְבֵי צֹאנִי
But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
Νυνὶ δὲ κατεγέλασάν μου ἐλάχιστοι, νῦν νουθετοῦσί με ἐν μέρει, ὧν ἐξουδένουν τοὺς πατέρας αὐτῶν, οὓς οὐχ ἡγησάμην ἀξίους κυνῶν τῶν ἐμῶν νομάδων.
But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, Now they reprove me in [their] turn, Whose fathers I set at nought; Whom I did not deem worthy [to be with] my shepherd dogs.
2
גַּם־כֹּחַ יְדֵיהֶם לָמָּה לִּי עָלֵימוֹ אָבַד כָּלַח
Yea, the strength of their hands, whereto should it profit me? men in whom ripe age is perished.
Καί γε ἰσχὺς χειρῶν αὐτῶν ἱνατί μοι; ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς ἀπώλετο συντέλεια.
Yea, why had I the strength of their hands? For them the full term [of life] was lost.
3
בְּחֶסֶר וּבְכָפָן גַּלְמוּד הַעֹרְקִים צִיָּה אֶמֶשׁ שׁוֹאָה וּמְשֹׁאָה
They are gaunt with want and famine; they gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of wasteness and desolation.
Ἐν ἐνδείᾳ καὶ λιμῷ ἄγονος, οἱ φεύγοντες ἄνυδρον ἐχθὲς συνοχὴν καὶ ταλαιπωρίαν.
[One is] childless in want and famine, [Such as] they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.
4
הַקֹּטְפִים מַלּוּחַ עֲלֵי־שִׂיחַ וְשֹׁרֶשׁ רְתָמִים לַחְמָם
They pluck salt-wort with wormwood; and the roots of the broom are their food.
Οἱ περικυκλοῦντες ἄλιμα ἐπὶ ἠχοῦντι, οἵτινες ἄλιμα ἦν αὐτῶν τὰ σῖτα, ἄτιμοι δὲ καὶ πεφαυλισμένοι, ἐνδεεῖς παντὸς ἀγαθοῦ, οἳ καὶ ῥὶζας ξύλων ἐμασσῶντο ὑπὸ λιμοῦ μεγάλου.
Who compass the salt places on the sounding [shore], Who had salt [herbs] for their food, And were dishonorable and of no repute, in want of every good thing; Who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger.
5
מִן־גֵּו יְגֹרָשׁוּ יָרִיעוּ עָלֵימוֹ כַּגַּנָּב
They are driven forth from the midst of men; they cry after them as after a thief.
Ἐπανέστησάν μοι κλέπται,
Thieves have risen up against me,
6
בַּעֲרוּץ נְחָלִים לִשְׁכֹּן חֹרֵי עָפָר וְכֵפִים
In the clefts of the valleys must they dwell, in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
ὧν οἱ οἶκοι αὐτῶν ἦσαν τρῶγλαι πετρῶν·
Whose houses were the caves of the rocks, Who lived under the wild shrubs.
7
בֵּין־שִׂיחִים יִנְהָקוּ תַּחַת חָרוּל יְסֻפָּחוּ
Among the bushes they bray; under the nettles they are gathered together.
Ἀναμέσον εὐήχων βοήσονται οἳ ὑπὸ φρύγανα ἄγρια διῃτῶντο.
They will cry out among the rustling [bushes].
8
בְּנֵי־נָבָל גַּם־בְּנֵי בְלִי־שֵׁם נִכְּאוּ מִן־הָאָרֶץ
They are children of churls, yea, children of ignoble men; they were scourged out of the land.
Ἀφρόνων υἱοὶ καὶ ἀτίμων, ὄνομα καὶ κλέος ἐσβεσμένον ἀπὸ γῆς.
[They are] sons of fools and vile men, [Whose] name and glory [are] quenched from off the earth.
9
וְעַתָּה נְגִינָתָם הָיִיתִי וָאֱהִי לָהֶם לְמִלָּה
And now I am become their song, yea, I am a byword unto them.
Νυνὶ δὲ κιθάρα ἐγώ εἰμι αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐμὲ θρύλλημα ἔχουσιν.
But now I am their music, And they have me for a byword.
10
תִּעֲבוּנִי רָחֲקוּ מֶנִּי וּמִפָּנַי לֹא־חָשְׂכוּ רֹק
They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.
Ἐβδελύξαντο δέ με ἀποστάντες μακρὰν, ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ προσώπου μου οὐκ ἐφείσαντο πτύελον.
And they stood aloof and abhorred me, And spared not to spit in my face.
11
כִּי־יתרו יִתְרִי פִתַּח וַיְעַנֵּנִי וְרֶסֶן מִפָּנַי שִׁלֵּחוּ
For He hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, and they have cast off the bridle before me.
Ἀνοίξας γὰρ φαρέτραν αὐτοῦ ἐκάκωσέ με, καὶ χαλινὸν τοῦ προσώπου μου ἐξαπέστειλεν.
For he has opened his quiver and afflicted me: They also have cast off the restraint of my presence.
12
עַל־יָמִין פִּרְחַח יָקוּמוּ רַגְלַי שִׁלֵּחוּ וַיָּסֹלּוּ עָלַי אָרְחוֹת אֵידָם
Upon my right hand rise the brood; they entangle my feet, and they cast up against me their ways of destruction.
Ἐπὶ δεξιῶν βλαστοῦ ἐπανέστησαν, πόδα αὐτῶν ἐξέτειναν, καὶ ὡδοποίησαν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ· τρίβους ἀπωλείας αὐτῶν.
They have risen up against [me] on the right hand of [their] offspring; They have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction.
13
נָתְסוּ נְתִיבָתִי לְהַוָּתִי יֹעִילוּ לֹא עֹזֵר לָמוֹ
They break up my path, they further my calamity, even men that have no helper.
Ἐξετρίβησαν τρίβοι μου, ἐξέδυσαν γάρ μου τὴν στολήν·
My paths are ruined; For they have stripped off my raiment: He has shot at me with his weapons.
14
כְּפֶרֶץ רָחָב יֶאֱתָיוּ תַּחַת שֹׁאָה הִתְגַּלְגָּלוּ
As through a wide breach they come; in the midst of the ruin they roll themselves upon me.
βέλεσιν αὐτοῦ κατηκόντισέ με. Κέκριται δέ μοι ὡς βούλεται, ἐν ὀδύναις πέφυρμαι.
And he has pleaded against me as he will: I am overwhelmed with pains.
15
הָהְפַּךְ עָלַי בַּלָּהוֹת תִּרְדֹּף כָּרוּחַ נְדִבָתִי וּכְעָב עָבְרָה יְשֻׁעָתִי
Terrors are turned upon me, they chase mine honour as the wind; and my welfare is passed away as a cloud.
Ἐπιστρέφονταί μου αἱ ὀδύναι, ᾤχετό μου ἡ ἐλπὶς ὥσπερ πνεῦμα, καὶ ὥσπερ νέφος ἡ σωτηρία μου.
My pains return upon [me]; My hope is gone like the wind, And my safety as a cloud.
16
וְעַתָּה עָלַי תִּשְׁתַּפֵּךְ נַפְשִׁי יֹאחֲזוּנִי יְמֵי־עֹנִי
And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
Καὶ νῦν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἐκχυθήσεται ἡ ψυχή μου, ἔχουσιν δέ με ἡμέραι ὀδυνῶν.
Even now my life shall be poured forth upon me; And days of anguish seize me.
17
לַיְלָה עֲצָמַי נִקַּר מֵעָלָי וְעֹרְקַי לֹא יִשְׁכָּבוּן
In the night my bones are pierced, and fall from me, and my sinews take no rest.
Νυκτὶ δέ μου τὰ ὀστᾶ συγκέχυται, τὰ δὲ νεῦρά μου διαλέλυται.
And by night my bones are confounded; And my sinews are relaxed.
18
בְּרָב־כֹּחַ יִתְחַפֵּשׂ לְבוּשִׁי כְּפִי כֻתָּנְתִּי יַאַזְרֵנִי
By the great force of my disease is my garment disfigured; it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.
Ἐν πολλῇ ἰσχύϊ ἐπελάβετό μου τῆς στολῆς, ὥσπερ τὸ περιστόμιον τοῦ χιτῶνός μου περιέσχε με.
With great force [my disease] has taken hold of my garment: It has compassed me as the collar of my coat.
19
הֹרָנִי לַחֹמֶר וָאֶתְמַשֵּׁל כֶּעָפָר וָאֵפֶר
He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
Ἥγησαι δέ με ἴσα πηλῷ, ἐν γῇ καὶ σποδῷ μου ἡ μερίς.
And thou hast counted me as clay; My portion is in dust and ashes.
20
אֲשַׁוַּע אֵלֶיךָ וְלֹא תַעֲנֵנִי עָמַדְתִּי וַתִּתְבֹּנֶן בִּי
I cry unto Thee, and Thou dost not answer me; I stand up, and Thou lookest at me.
Κέκραγα δὲ πρὸς σὲ καὶ οὐκ ἀκούεις μου, ἔστησαν δὲ καὶ κατενόησάν με.
And I have cried to thee, but thou hearest me not: But they stood still, and observed me.
21
תֵּהָפֵךְ לְאַכְזָר לִי בְּעֹצֶם יָדְךָ תִשְׂטְמֵנִי
Thou art turned to be cruel to me; with the might of Thy hand Thou hatest me.
Ἐπέβησαν δέ μοι ἀνελεημόνως, χειρὶ κραταιᾷ με ἐμαστίγωσας.
They attacked me also without mercy: Thou hast scourged me with a strong hand.
22
תִּשָּׂאֵנִי אֶל־רוּחַ תַּרְכִּיבֵנִי וּתְמֹגְגֵנִי תשוה תּוּשִׁיָּה
Thou liftest me up to the wind, Thou causest me to ride upon it; and Thou dissolvest my substance.
Ἔταξας δέ με ἐν ὀδύναις, καὶ ἀπέῤῥιψάς με ἀπὸ σωτηρίας.
And thou hast put me to grief, And hast cast me away from safety.
23
כִּי־יָדַעְתִּי מָוֶת תְּשִׁיבֵנִי וּבֵית מוֹעֵד לְכָל־חָי
For I know that Thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
Οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι θάνατός με ἐκτρίψει, οἰκία γὰρ παντὶ θνητῷ γῆ.
For I know that death will destroy me: For the earth is the house [appointed] for every mortal.
24
אַךְ לֹא־בְעִי יִשְׁלַח־יָד אִם־בְּפִידוֹ לָהֶן שׁוּעַ
Surely none shall put forth his hand to a ruinous heap, neither because of these things shall help come in one's calamity,
Εἰ γὰρ ὄφελον δυναίμην ἐμαυτὸν χειρώσασθαι, ἢ δεηθείς γε ἑτέρου, καὶ ποιήσει μοι τοῦτο.
Oh then that I might lay hands upon myself, Or at least ask another, and he should do this for me.
25
אִם־לֹא בָכִיתִי לִקְשֵׁה־יוֹם עָגְמָה נַפְשִׁי לָאֶבְיוֹן
If I have not wept for him that was in trouble, and if my soul grieved not for the needy.
Ἐγὼ δὲ ἐπὶ παντὶ ἀδυνάτῳ ἔκλαυσα, ἐστέναξα ἰδὼν ἄνδρα ἐν ἀνάγκαις·
Yet I wept over every helpless man; I groaned when I saw a man in distress.
26
כִּי טוֹב קִוִּיתִי וַיָּבֹא רָע וַאֲיַחֲלָה לְאוֹר וַיָּבֹא אֹפֶל
Yet, when I looked for good, there came evil; and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
ἐγὼ δὲ ἐπέχων ἀγαθοῖς, ἰδοὺ συνήντησάν μοι μᾶλλον ἡμέραι κακῶν.
But I, when I waited for good things, Behold, days of evils came the more upon me.
27
מֵעַי רֻתְּחוּ וְלֹא־דָמּוּ קִדְּמֻנִי יְמֵי־עֹנִי
Mine inwards boil, and rest not; days of affliction are come upon me.
Ἡ κοιλία μου ἐξέζεσε καὶ οὐ σιωπήσεται, προέφθασάν με ἡμέραι πτωχείας.
My belly boiled, and would not cease: The days of poverty prevented me.
28
קֹדֵר הִלַּכְתִּי בְּלֹא חַמָּה קַמְתִּי בַקָּהָל אֲשַׁוֵּעַ
I go mourning without the sun; I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.
Στένων πεπόρευμαι ἄνευ φιμοῦ, ἕστηκα δὲ ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ κεκραγώς.
I went mourning without restraint: And I have stood and cried out in the assembly.
29
אָח הָיִיתִי לְתַנִּים וְרֵעַ לִבְנוֹת יַעֲנָה
I am become a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.
Ἀδελφὸς γέγονα σειρήνων, ἑταῖρος δὲ στρουθῶν.
I am become a brother of monsters, And a companion of ostriches.
30
עוֹרִי שָׁחַר מֵעָלָי וְעַצְמִי־חָרָה מִנִּי־חֹרֶב
My skin is black, and falleth from me, and my bones are burned with heat.
Τὸ δὲ δέρμα μου ἐσκότωται μεγάλως, τὰ δὲ ὀστᾶ μου ἀπὸ καύματος.
And my skin has been greatly blackened, And my bones are burned with heat.
31
וַיְהִי לְאֵבֶל כִּנֹּרִי וְעֻגָבִי לְקוֹל בֹּכִים
Therefore is my harp turned to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of them that weep.
Ἀπέβη δὲ εἰς πένθος μου ἡ κιθάρα, ὁ δὲ ψαλμός μου εἰς κλαυθμὸν ἐμοί.
My harp also has been turned into mourning, And my song into my weeping.