{Khet} Namely, that the mercies of the LORD are not clean gone, and that his loving-kindness ceaseth not.

{Beth} My flesh and my skin hath he made old, my bones hath he bruised.

He hath builded round about me, and closed me in with gall and travail.

He hath set me in darkness, as they that be dead forever.

{Gimel} He hath so hedged me in, that I cannot get out; and hath laid heavy links upon me.

He hath stopped up my ways with four square stones, and made my paths crooked.

Though I cry and call piteously, yet heareth he not my prayer.

He hath marred my ways, and broken me in pieces: he hath laid me waste altogether.

{Daleth} He layeth wait for me like a Bear, and as a lion in a hole.

He hath bent his bow, and made me as it were a mark to shoot at.

{Aleph} I am the man, that, through the rod of his wrath, have experience of misery.

{Zayin} O remember yet my misery and my trouble; the wormwood and the gall.

I am laughed to scorn of all my people; they make songs upon me all the day long.

He hath put my soul out of rest; I forget all good things.

{He} The arrows of his quiver hath he shot, even into my reins.

{Tet} O how good is the LORD unto them that put their trust in him, and to the soul that seeketh after him?

His faithfulness is great and reneweth itself as the morning.

I thought in myself, "I am undone; there is no hope for me in the LORD."

{Vav} He hath smitten my teeth in pieces, and rolled me in the dust.

Yea, thou shalt remember them, for my soul melteth away in me.

He hath filled me with bitterness, and given me wormwood to drink.

O how good is it, with stillness, to wait and tarry for the health of the LORD?

{Khaf} For the LORD will not forsake forever.

"The LORD is my portion," sayeth my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

He drove me forth, and led me: Yea, into darkness, but not in to light.

Against me only he turneth his hand, and layeth it ever upon me.

He offereth his cheek to the smiter; he will be content with reproves.

O how good is it, for a man, to take the yoke upon him from his youth up?

{Yod} He sitteth alone, he holdeth him still, and dwelleth quietly by himself.

He layeth his face upon the earth, if, percase, there happen to be any hope.

While I consider these things in my heart, I get a hope again.

{Mem} What is he then that sayeth, "There should something be done without the LORD's commandment:

{Nun} Let us look well upon our own ways, and remember ourselves, and turn again to the LORD.

out of the mouth of the most Highest goeth not evil and good"?

But though he do cast off, yet according to the multitude of his mercies, he receiveth to grace again.

{Lamed} To tread all the prisoners of the earth under his feet.

For he doth not plague, and cast out the children of men from his heart.

Wherefore then murmureth the living man, let him murmur at his own sin.

Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto the God that is in heaven.

To move the judgment of man before the most highest.

{Kuf} I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the deep pit.

Thou hast inclined thyself unto me, when I called upon thee, and haste said, "Fear not."

To condemn a man in his cause; The LORD hath no pleasure in such things.

{Samekh} Thou hast covered us in thy wrath, and persecuted us, thou hast slain us, without any favour.

Thou hast made us outcasts, and to be despised among the Heathen.

Mine eye breaketh my heart, because of all the daughters of my city.

Whole rivers of water gush out of mine eyes, for the great hurt of my people.

{Res} Thou, O LORD, hast maintained the cause of my soul, and hast redeemed my life.

{Tsadi} Mine enemies hunted me out sharply, like a bird; yea, and that without a cause.

We have been dissemblers, and have offended; will thou therefore not be intreated?

{Pe} Mine eyes run, and cannot cease, for there is no rest.

Thou hast hid thyself in a cloud, that our prayer should not go through.

{Ayin} All our enemies gape upon us.

Fear and snare is come upon us; yea, despite and destruction.

They have put down my life into a pit, and laid a stone upon me.

{Tav} Reward them, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.

The lips of mine enemies, and their devices that they take against me, all the day long.

Thou hast heard my voice, and hast not turned away thine ears from my sighing and crying.

Persecute them, O LORD, with thine indignation, and root them out from under the heaven.

They poured water upon my head, then thought I, "Now am I undone."

O LORD, when will thou look down from heaven, and consider?

{Shin} Thou hast heard their despiteful words, O LORD; yea, and all their imaginations against me.

Thou seest also their sitting down and their rising up. They make their songs of nothing but me.

Thou hast well considered how they go about to do me harm, and that all their counsels are against me.

Give them the thing, that their own heart is afraid of: even thy curse.

O LORD, thou hast seen my blasphemers; take thou my cause upon thee.