1 I AM the man that has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

2 He has led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.

3 Surely against me is he turned; he turns his hand against me all the day.

4 My flesh and my skin has he made old; he has broken my bones.

5 He has built against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.

6 He has set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.

7 He has hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he has made my chain heavy.

8 Also when I cry and shout, he shuts out my prayer.

9 He has enclosed my ways with hewn stone, he has made my paths crooked.

10 He was to me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.

11 He has turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he has made me desolate.

12 He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.

13 He has caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.

14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.

15 He has filled me with bitterness, he has made me drunken with wormwood.

16 He has also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he has covered me with ashes.

17 And you have removed my soul far off from peace: I forgot prosperity.

18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:

19 Remembering my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

20 My soul has them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.