1 I have suffered much

because God was angry.

2 He chased me into a dark place,

where no light could enter.

3 I am the only one he punishes

over and over again,

without ever stopping.

4 God caused my skin and flesh

to waste away,

and he crushed my bones.

5 He attacked and surrounded me

with hardships and trouble;

6 he forced me to sit in the dark

like someone long dead.

7 God built a fence around me

that I cannot climb over,

and he chained me down.

8 Even when I shouted

and prayed for help,

he refused to listen.

9 God put big rocks in my way

and made me follow

a crooked path.

10 God was like a bear or a lion

waiting in ambush for me;

11 he dragged me from the road,

then tore me to shreds.*

12 God took careful aim

and shot his arrows

13 straight through my heart.

14 I am a joke to everyone—

no one ever stops

making fun of me.

15 God has turned my life sour.

16 He made me eat gravel

and rubbed me in the dirt.

17 I cannot find peace

or remember happiness.

18 I tell myself, "I am finished!

I can't count on the Lord

to do anything for me."

19 Just thinking of my troubles

and my lonely wandering

makes me miserable.

20 That's all I ever think about,

and I am depressed.*

21 Then I remember something

that fills me with hope.

22 The Lord's kindness never fails!

If he had not been merciful,

we would have been destroyed.*

23 The Lord can always be trusted

to show mercy each morning.

24 Deep in my heart I say,

"The Lord is all I need;

I can depend on him!"

25 The Lord is kind to everyone

who trusts and obeys him.

26 It is good to wait patiently

for the Lord to save us.

27 When we are young,

it is good to struggle hard

28 and to sit silently alone,

if this is what

the Lord intends.

29 Being rubbed in the dirt

can teach us a lesson;*

30 we can also learn from insults

and hard knocks.

31 The Lord won't always reject us!

32 He causes a lot of suffering,

but he also has pity

because of his great love.

33 The Lord doesn't enjoy

sending grief or pain.

34 Don't trample prisoners

under your feet

35 or cheat anyone out of

what is rightfully theirs.

God Most High sees everything,

36 and he knows when you refuse

to give someone a fair trial.

37 No one can do anything

without the Lord's approval.

38 Good and bad each happen

at the command

of God Most High.

39 We're still alive!

We shouldn't complain

when we are being punished

for our sins.

40 Instead, we should think

about the way we are living,

and turn back to the Lord.

41 When we lift our hands

in prayer to God in heaven,

we should offer him our hearts

and say, 42 "We've sinned!

We've rebelled against you,

and you haven't forgiven us!

43 Anger is written all over you,

as you pursue and slaughter us

without showing pity.

44 You are behind a wall of clouds

that blocks out our prayers.

45 You allowed nations

to treat us like garbage;

46 our enemies curse us.

47 We are terrified and trapped,

caught and crushed."

48 My people are destroyed!

Tears flood my eyes,

49 and they won't stop

50 until the Lord looks down

from heaven and helps.

51 I am horrified when I see

what enemies have done

to the young women of our city.

52 No one had reason to hate me,

but I was hunted down

like a bird.

53 Then they tried to kill me

by tossing me into a pit

and throwing stones at me.

54 Water covered my head—

I thought I was gone.

55 From the bottom of the pit,

I prayed to you, Lord.

56 I begged you to listen.

"Help!" I shouted. "Save me!"

You answered my prayer

57 and came when I was in need.

You told me, "Don't worry!"

58 You rescued me

and saved my life.

59 You saw them abuse me, Lord,

so make things right.

60 You know every plot

they have made against me.

61 Yes, you know their insults

and their evil plans.

62 All day long they attack

with words and whispers.

63 No matter what they are doing,

they keep on mocking me.

64 Pay them back for everything

they have done, Lord!

65 Put your curse on them

and make them suffer.*

66 Get angry and go after them

until not a trace is left

under the heavens.