| New International Version (NIV) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 "But now they mock me, men younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.
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1 "But now they mock me, men younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.
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2 Of what use was the strength of their hands to me, since their vigor had gone from them?
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2 Of what use was the strength of their hands to me, since their vigor had gone from them?
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3 Haggard from want and hunger, they roamed the parched land in desolate wastelands at night.
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3 Haggard from want and hunger, they roamed the parched land in desolate wastelands at night.
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4 In the brush they gathered salt herbs, and their food was the root of the broom tree.
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4 In the brush they gathered salt herbs, and their food was the root of the broom tree.
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5 They were banished from their fellow men, shouted at as if they were thieves.
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5 They were banished from their fellow men, shouted at as if they were thieves.
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6 They were forced to live in the dry stream beds, among the rocks and in holes in the ground.
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6 They were forced to live in the dry stream beds, among the rocks and in holes in the ground.
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7 They brayed among the bushes and huddled in the undergrowth.
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7 They brayed among the bushes and huddled in the undergrowth.
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8 A base and nameless brood, they were driven out of the land.
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8 A base and nameless brood, they were driven out of the land.
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9 "And now their sons mock me in song; I have become a byword among them.
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9 "And now their sons mock me in song; I have become a byword among them.
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10 They detest me and keep their distance; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.
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10 They detest me and keep their distance; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.
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11 Now that God has unstrung my bow and afflicted me, they throw off restraint in my presence.
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11 Now that God has unstrung my bow and afflicted me, they throw off restraint in my presence.
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12 On my right the tribe attacks; they lay snares for my feet, they build their siege ramps against me.
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12 On my right the tribe attacks; they lay snares for my feet, they build their siege ramps against me.
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13 They break up my road; they succeed in destroying me-- without anyone's helping them.
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13 They break up my road; they succeed in destroying me-- without anyone's helping them.
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14 They advance as through a gaping breach; amid the ruins they come rolling in.
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14 They advance as through a gaping breach; amid the ruins they come rolling in.
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15 Terrors overwhelm me; my dignity is driven away as by the wind, my safety vanishes like a cloud.
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15 Terrors overwhelm me; my dignity is driven away as by the wind, my safety vanishes like a cloud.
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16 "And now my life ebbs away; days of suffering grip me.
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16 "And now my life ebbs away; days of suffering grip me.
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17 Night pierces my bones; my gnawing pains never rest.
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17 Night pierces my bones; my gnawing pains never rest.
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18 In his great power [God] becomes like clothing to me; he binds me like the neck of my garment.
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18 In his great power [God] becomes like clothing to me; he binds me like the neck of my garment.
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19 He throws me into the mud, and I am reduced to dust and ashes.
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19 He throws me into the mud, and I am reduced to dust and ashes.
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20 "I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me.
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20 "I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me.
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21 You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of your hand you attack me.
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21 You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of your hand you attack me.
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22 You snatch me up and drive me before the wind; you toss me about in the storm.
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22 You snatch me up and drive me before the wind; you toss me about in the storm.
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23 I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.
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23 I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.
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24 "Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man when he cries for help in his distress.
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24 "Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man when he cries for help in his distress.
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25 Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
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25 Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
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26 Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness.
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26 Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness.
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27 The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me.
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27 The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me.
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28 I go about blackened, but not by the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.
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28 I go about blackened, but not by the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.
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29 I have become a brother of jackals, a companion of owls.
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29 I have become a brother of jackals, a companion of owls.
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30 My skin grows black and peels; my body burns with fever.
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30 My skin grows black and peels; my body burns with fever.
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31 My harp is tuned to mourning, and my flute to the sound of wailing.
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31 My harp is tuned to mourning, and my flute to the sound of wailing.
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| Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
