The Prophet’s Afflictions

3 I[fn] am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of [God’s] wrath.

2 He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness instead of light.

3 Indeed, He keeps turning His hand against me all day long

4 He has worn away my flesh and skin; He has shattered my bones.

5 He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.

6 He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages.

7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape; He has weighed me down with chains.

8 Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer.

9 He has barred my ways with cut stones; He has made my paths crooked.

10 He is a bear lying in wait, a lion hiding in ambush.

11 He forced me off my path and tore me to pieces; He left me without help.

12 He bent His bow and set me as the target for His arrow.

13 He pierced my kidneys with His arrows

14 I am a laughingstock to all my people; they mock me in song all day long

15 He has filled me with bitterness; He has intoxicated me with wormwood.

16 He has ground my teeth with gravel and trampled me in the dust.

17 My soul has been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is.

18 So I say, “My strength has perished, along with my hope from the LORD.”