Chapter 3

A h, what straits have I not known, under the avenging rod!

A sked I for light, into deeper shadow the Lord’s guidance led me;

A lways upon me, none other, falls endlessly the blow.

B roken this frame, under the wrinkled skin, the sunk flesh.

B itterness of despair fills my prospect, walled in on every side;

B uried in darkness, and, like the dead, interminably.

C losely he fences me in, beyond hope of rescue; loads me with fetters.

C ry out for mercy as I will, prayer of mine wins no audience;

C limb these smooth walls I may not; every way of escape he has undone.

D eep ambushed he lies, as lurking bear or lion from the covert;

D rawn aside from my path, I fall a lonely prey to his ravening.

D read archer, of me he makes a target for all his arrows;

E ach shaft of his quiver at my vitals taught to strike home!

E vermore for me the taunts of my neighbours, their songs of derision.

E ntertainment of bitter herbs he gives me, and of wormwood my fill,

F iles all my teeth with hard gravel-stones, bids me feed on ashes.

F ar away is my old contentment, happier days forgotten;

F arewell, my hopes of long continuance, my patient trust in the Lord!

G uilt and suffering, gall and wormwood, keep all this well in memory.

G od knows it shall be remembered, and with sinking of the heart;

G age there can be none other of remaining confidence.

H is be the thanks if we are not extinguished; his mercies never weary;

H ope comes with each dawn; art thou not faithful, Lord, to thy promise?

H eart whispers, The Lord is my portion; I will trust him yet.

I n him be thy trust, for him thy heart’s longing, gracious thou shalt find him;

I f deliverance thou wouldst have from the Lord, in silence await it.

I t is well thou shouldst learn to bear the yoke, now in thy youth,

J ust burden, in solitude and silence justly borne.

J oy may yet be thine, for mouth that kisses the dust,

J eering of the multitude, and cheek buffeted in scorn, bravely endured.

K now for certain, the Lord has not finally abandoned thee;

K ind welcome the outcast shall have, from one so rich in kindness.

K in of Adam he will not crush or cast away wantonly;

L et there be oppression of the poor under duress,

L aw’s right denied, such as the most High grants to all men,

L ying perversion of justice, then he cannot overlook it.

M an may foretell; only the Lord brings his word to pass;

M ingled good and evil proceed both from the will of the most High;

M ortal is none may repine; let each his own sins remember.

N arrowly our path scan we, and to the Lord return;

N ever hand or heart but must point heavenward this day!

N othing but defiant transgression on our part; and shouldst thou relent?

O ver our heads thy angry vengeance lowered; smiting, thou wouldst not spare.

O h, barrier of cloud, our prayers had no strength to pierce!

O ffscouring and refuse of mankind thou hast made us,

P ut to shame by the mocking grimaces of our enemies.

P rophets we had, but their word was peril and pitfall, and ruin at the last.

P oor Sion, for thy calamity these cheeks are furrowed with tears;

Q uell if thou wouldst the restless fever of my weeping,

Q uickly, Lord, look down from heaven and pay heed to us,

Q uite forspent, eye and soul, with grief Jerusalem’s daughters bear.

R elentless as hawk in air they pursued me, enemies unprovoked,

R eft me of life itself, sealed with a stone my prison door.

R ound my head the waters closed, and I had given myself up for lost,

S ave for one hope; to thee, Lord, I cried from the pit’s depth,

S ure of thy audience; wouldst thou turn a deaf ear to sighs of complaint?

S ummoned, thou didst come to my side, whispering, Do not be afraid.

T hine, Lord, to take my part; thine to rescue me from death;

T he malice of my enemies to discover, my wrongs to redress.

T hrust away from thy sight, the grudge they bear me, the ill they purpose,

U nheard by thee their taunts, their whispered plottings?

U ttered aloud or in secret, their malice assails me from morn till night;

U p in arms, or met in secret conclave, ever against me they raise the battle-song.

V isit them with the punishment their ill deeds have earned;

V eiled be those blind hearts with fresh blindness of thy own making;

V anish from the earth their whole brood, ere thy vengeance leaves off pursuing them!