The prophet in the person of the afflicted people bewaileth his manifold miseries and Gods heavy hand upon him: 19. yet remembering the mercies of our Lord, which fail not, he hopeth, and exhorteth to patience and penance: 40. inviting all to search their own ways and return to God: 55. he calleth upon our Lord out of the lowest lake, who heareth his cry, and judgeth his cause against his enemies.The prophet in the person of the afflicted people bewaileth his manifold miseries and Gods heauie hand vpon him: 19. yet remembring the mercies of our Lord, which faile not, he hopeth, and exhorteth to patience and penance: 40. inuiting al to search their owne wayes and returne to God: 55. he calleth vpon our Lord out of the lowest lake, who heareth his crie, and iudgeth his cause against his enemies.✦
I the man that see my poverty in the rod of his indignation.I THE man that see my pouertie in the rod of his indignation.✦Aleph. Ego vir videns paupertatem meam in virga indignationis ejus.
2He hath led me, and brought me into darkness and not into light.He hath led me, and brought me into darknes and not into light.✦Aleph. Me minavit, et adduxit in tenebras, et non in lucem.
3Only against me he hath turned and hath converted his hand all the day.Only against me he hath turned and hath conuerted his hand al the day.✦Aleph. Tantum in me vertit et convertit manum suam tota die.
4He hath made my skin old and my flesh, he hath broken my bones.He hath made my skinne old and my flesh, he hath broken my bones.✦Beth. Vetustam fecit pellem meam et carnem meam ; contrivit ossa mea.
5He hath built round about me, and he hath compassed me with gall, and labour.He hath built round about me, and he hath compased me with gaul, and labour.✦Beth. Ædificavit in gyro meo, et circumdedit me felle et labore.
6In dark places he hath placed me as the everlasting dead.In darke places he hath placed me as the euerlasting dead.✦Beth. In tenebrosis collocavit me, quasi mortuos sempiternos.
7He hath built round about against me, that I go not forth: he hath aggravated my fetters.He hath built round about against me, that I goe not forth: he hath aggrauated my fetters.✦Ghimel. Circumædificavit adversum me, ut non egrediar ; aggravavit compedem meum.
8Yea and when I shall cry, and ask, he hath excluded my prayer.Yea and when I shal crie, and aske, he hath excluded my prayer.✦Ghimel. Sed et cum clamavero, et rogavero, exclusit orationem meam.
9He hath shut up my ways with square stones, he hath subverted my paths.He hath shut vp my wayes with square stones, he hath subuerted my pathes.✦Ghimel. Conclusit vias meas lapidibus quadris ; semitas meas subvertit.
10He is become unto me a bear lying in wait: a lion in secret places.He is become vnto me a beare lying in waite: a lyon in secret places.✦Daleth. Ursus insidians factus est mihi, leo in absconditis.
11He hath subverted my paths, and hath broken me, he hath made me desolate.He hath subuerted my pathes, and hath broken me, he hath made me desolate.✦Daleth. Semitas meas subvertit, et confregit me ; posuit me desolatam.
12He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.He hath bent his bow, and set me as a marke for the arrow.✦Daleth. Tetendit arcum suum, et posuit me quasi signum ad sagittam.
13He hath shot in my reins the daughters of his quiver.He hath shot in my reines the daughters of his quiuer.✦He. Misit in renibus meis filias pharetræ suæ.
14I am made a derision to all my people, their song all the day.I am made a derision to al my people, their song al the day.✦He. Factus sum in derisum omni populo meo, canticum eorum tota die.
15He hath replenished me with bitterness, he hath inebriated me with wormwood.He hath replenished me with bitternes, he hath inebriated me with wormwood.✦He. Replevit me amaritudinibus ; inebriavit me absinthio.
16And he hath broken my teeth by number, he hath fed me with ashes.And he hath broken my teeth by number, he hath fed me with ashes.✦Vau. Et fregit ad numerum dentes meos ; cibavit me cinere.
17And my soul is repelled from peace, I have forgotten good things.And my soule is repelled from peace, I haue forgotten good thinges.✦Vau. Et repulsa est a pace anima mea ; oblitus sum bonorum.
18And I said: Mine end is perished, and mine hope from our Lord.And I sayd: Mine end is perished, and mine hope from our Lord.✦Vau. Et dixi : Periit finis meus, et spes mea a Domino.
19Remember my poverty, and transgression, the wormwood, and the gall.Remember my pouertie, and transgression, the wormwood, and the gual.✦Zain. Recordare paupertatis, et transgressionis meæ, absinthii et fellis.
20Remembering I will be mindful, and my soul shall languish in me.Remembring I wil be mindful, and my soule shal languish in me.Zain. Memoria memor ero, et tabescet in me anima mea.
21Recording this thing in my heart, therefore will I hope.Recording this thing in my hart, therfore wil I hope.✦Zain. Hæc recolens in corde meo, ideo sperabo.
22The mercies of our Lord that we are not consumed: because his commiserations have not failed.The mercies of our Lord that we are not consumed: because his commiserations haue not fayled.✦Heth. Misericordiæ Domini, quia non sumus consumpti ; quia non defecerunt miserationes ejus.
23New in the morning, great is thy fidelity.New in the morning, great is thy fidelite.✦Heth. Novi diluculo, multa est fides tua.
24Our Lord is my portion, said my soul: therefore will I expect him.Our Lord is my portion, sayd my soule: therfore wil I expect him.✦Heth. Pars mea Dominus, dixit anima mea ; propterea exspectabo eum.
25Our Lord is good to them that hope in him, to the soul that seeketh him.Our Lord is good to them that hope in him, to the soule that seeketh him.✦Teth. Bonus est Dominus sperantibus in eum, animæ quærenti illum.
26It is good to wait with silence for the salvation of God.It is good to waite with silence for the saluation of God.✦Teth. Bonum est præstolari cum silentio salutare Dei.
27It is good for a man, when he beareth the yoke from his youth.It is good for a man, when he beareth the yoke from his youth.✦Teth. Bonum est viro cum portaverit jugum ab adolescentia sua.
28He shall sit solitary, and hold his peace: because he hath lifted himself above himself.He shal sit solitarie, and hold his peace: because he hath lifted himselfe aboue himself.✦Jod. Sedebit solitarius, et tacebit, quia levavit super se.
29He shall put his mouth in the dust, if perhaps there be hope.He shal put his mouth in the dust, if perhaps there be hope.✦Jod. Ponet in pulvere os suum, si forte sit spes.
30He shall give the cheek to him that striketh him, he shall be filled with reproaches.He shal geue the cheeke to him that striketh him, he shal be filled with reproches.✦Jod. Dabit percutienti se maxillam : saturabitur opprobriis.
31Because our Lord will not reject for ever.Because our Lord wil not reiect for euer.Caph. Quia non repellet in sempiternum Dominus.
32Because if he hath rejected, he will also have mercy, according to the multitude of his mercies.Because if he hath reiected, he wil also haue mercie, according to the multitude of his mercies.Caph. Quia si abjecit, et miserebitur, secundum multitudinem misericordiarum suarum.
33For he hath not humbled from his heart, and cast off the children of men.For he hath not humbled from his hart, and cast of the children of men.✦Caph. Non enim humiliavit ex corde suo et abjecit filios hominum.
34To conteret: to trample, tread underfoot under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.To stamp vnder his fete al the prisoners of the earth.✦Lamed. Ut conteret sub pedibus suis omnes vinctos terræ.
35To avert the judgement of a man before the face of the Highest.To auert the iudgement of a man before the face of the Highest.✦Lamed. Ut declinaret judicium viri in conspectu vultus Altissimi.
36To pervert a man in his judgement, our Lord hath not known.To peruert a man in his iudgement, our Lord hath not knowne.✦Lamed. Ut perverteret hominem in judicio suo ; Dominus ignoravit.
37Who is this, that hath commanded it to be done, our Lord not commanding it?Who is this, that hath commanded it to be done, our Lord not commanding it?✦Mem. Quis est iste qui dixit ut fieret, Domino non jubente ?
38Out of the mouth of the Highest, there shall not proceed neither evil things, nor good.Out of the mouth of the Highest, there shal not procede neither euil thinges, nor good.✦Mem. Ex ore Altissimi non egredientur nec mala nec bona ?
39What hath the living man murmured, man for his sins?What hath the liuing man murmured, man for his sinnes?✦Mem. Quid murmuravit homo vivens, vir pro peccatis suis ?
40Let us search our ways, and seek, and return to our Lord.Let vs search our wayes, & seeke, and returne to our Lord.✦Nun. Scrutemur vias nostras, et quæramus, et revertamur ad Dominum.
41Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to our Lord into the heavens.Let vs lift vp our hartes with our handes to our Lord into the heauens.✦Nun. Levemus corda nostra cum manibus ad Dominum in cælos.
42We have done wickedly, and provoked to wrath: therefore thou art inexorable.We haue done wickedly, and prouoked to wrath: therfore thou art inexorable.✦Nun. Nos inique egimus, et ad iracundiam provocavimus ; idcirco tu inexorabilis es.
43Thou hast covered in fury, and hast stricken us: thou hast killed, and not spared.Thou hast couered in furie, and hast strooken vs: thou hast killed, and not spared.✦Samech. Operuisti in furore, et percussisti nos ; occidisti, nec pepercisti.
44Thou hast set a cloud before thee, that prayer may not pass.Thou hast sette a cloude before thee, that prayer may not passe.✦Samech. Opposuisti nubem tibi, ne transeat oratio.
45Thou hast made me to be rooted out, and abjectionem: utterly wretched or degraded; an outcast, a thing cast away in the midst of the peoples.Thou hast made me to be rooted out, and abiect in the middes of the peoples.✦Samech. Eradicationem et abjectionem posuisti me in medio populorum.
46All the enemies have opened their mouth upon us.Al the enemies haue opened their mouth vpon vs.✦Phe. Aperuerunt super nos os suum omnes inimici.
47Prophecy is made unto us, fear, and snare, and destruction.Prophecie is made vnto vs, feare, and snare, and destruction.✦Phe. Formido et laqueus facta est nobis vaticinatio, et contritio.
48Mine eye hath shed streams of waters, in the destruction of the daughter of my people.Myne eye hath shed streames of waters, in the destruction of the daughter of my people.✦Phe. Divisiones aquarum deduxit oculus meus, in contritione filiæ populi mei.
49Mine eye is afflicted, neither hath it been quiet, because there was no rest:Myne eye is afflicted, neither hath it bene quiet, because there was no rest:✦Ain. Oculus meus afflictus est, nec tacuit, eo quod non esset requies.
50Till our Lord regarded and looked from the heavens.Til our Lord regarded and looked from the heauens.Ain. Donec respiceret et videret Dominus de cælis.
51Mine eye hath deprædatus: ruined or gone bad; preyed upon, despoiled my soul for all the daughters of my city.Mine eye hath spoyled my soule for al the daughters of my citie.✦Ain. Oculus meus deprædatus est animam meam in cunctis filiabus urbis meæ.
52Mine enemies in hunting have caught me as a bird, without cause.Myne enemies in hunting haue caught me as a birde, without cause.✦Sade. Venatione ceperunt me quasi avem inimici mei gratis.
53My life is fallen into the lacum: a body of standing water; a pit or dungeon, and they have laid a stone upon me.My life is fallen into the lake, and they haue layd a stone vpon me.✦Sade. Lapsa est in lacum vita mea, et posuerunt lapidem super me.
54The waters have flowed over my head: I said: I am undone.The waters haue flowed ouer my head: I sayd: I am vndone.✦Sade. Inundaverunt aquæ super caput meum ; dixi : Perii.
55I have invocated thy name O Lord from the lowest lake.I haue inuocated thy name ô Lord from the lowest lake.✦Coph. Invocavi nomen tuum, Domine, de lacu novissimo.
56Thou hast heard my voice: turn not away thine ear from my sobbings, and cries.Thou hast heard my voice: turne not away thine eare from my sobbings, and cries.✦Coph. Vocem meam audisti ; ne avertas aurem tuam a singultu meo et clamoribus.
57Thou didst approach in the day, when I invocated thee: thou hast said: Fear not.Thou didst approch in the day, when I inuocated thee: thou hast sayd: Feare not.✦Coph. Appropinquasti in die quando invocavi te ; dixisti : Ne timeas.
58Thou hast judged O Lord the cause of my soul, redeemer of my life.Thou hast iudged ô Lord the cause of my soule, redemer of my life.✦Res. Judicasti, Domine, causam animæ meæ, redemptor vitæ meæ.
59Thou hast seen O Lord their iniquity against me: judge my judgement.Thou hast seene ô Lord their iniquitie against me: iudge my iudgement.✦Res. Vidisti, Domine, iniquitatem illorum adversum me : judica judicium meum.
60Thou hast seen all their fury, all their cogitations against me.Thou hast seene al their furie, al their cogitations against me.✦Res. Vidisti omnem furorem, universas cogitationes eorum adversum me.
61Thou hast heard their reproach O Lord, all their cogitations against me.Thou hast heard their reproch ô Lord, al their cogitations against me.✦Sin. Audisti opprobrium eorum, Domine, omnes cogitationes eorum adversum me.
62The lips of them that rise up against me; and their cogitations against me all the day.The lippes of them that rise vp against me; and their cogitations against me al the day.✦Sin. Labia insurgentium mihi, et meditationes eorum adversum me tota die.
63See their sitting down, and their rising up, I am their psalm.See their sitting downe, and their rysing vp, I am their psalme.✦Sin. Sessionem eorum et resurrectionem eorum vide ; ego sum psalmus eorum.
64Thou shalt render them a recompense O Lord, according to the works of their hands.Thou shalt render them a recompence ô Lord, according to the workes of their handes.Thau. Reddes eis vicem, Domine, juxta opera manuum suarum.
65Thou shalt give them a shield of heart, thy labour.Thou shalt geue them a shild of hart thy labour.✦Thau. Dabis eis scutum cordis, laborem tuum.
66Thou shalt persecute in fury, and shalt destroy them from under the heavens O Lord.Thou shalt persecute in furie, and shalt destroy them from vnder the heauens ô Lord.✦Thau. Persequeris in furore, et conteres eos sub cælis, Domine.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.