Part 632

68:9. I am become a stranger to my brethren, and an alien to the sons of my mother.

68:10. For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up: and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

68:11. And I covered my soul in fasting: and it was made a reproach to me.

68:12. And I made haircloth my garment: and I became a byword to them.

68:13. They that sat in the gate spoke against me: and they that drank wine made me their song.

68:14. But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O Lord; for the time of thy good pleasure, O God. In the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

68:15. Draw me out of the mire, that I may not stick fast: deliver me from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

68:16. Let not the tempest of water drown me, nor the deep water swallow me up: and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

68:17. Hear me, O Lord, for thy mercy is kind; look upon me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

68:18. And turn not away thy face from thy servant: for I am in trouble, hear me speedily.

68:19. Attend to my soul, and deliver it: save me because of my enemies.

68:20. Thou knowest my reproach, and my confusion, and my shame.

68:21. In thy sight are all they that afflict me; my heart hath expected reproach and misery. And I looked for one that would grieve together with me, but there was none: and for one that would comfort me, and I found none.

68:22. And they gave me gall for my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

68:23. Let their table become as a snare before them, and a recompense, and a stumblingblock.

Let their table, etc.... What here follows in the style of an imprecation, is a prophecy of the wretched state to which the Jews should be reduced in punishment of their wilful obstinacy.

68:24. Let their eyes be darkened that they see not; and their back bend thou down always.

68:25. Pour out thy indignation upon them: and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

68:26. Let their habitation be made desolate: and let there be none to dwell in their tabernacles.

68:27. Because they have persecuted him whom thou hast smitten; and they have added to the grief of my wounds.

68:28. Add thou iniquity upon their iniquity: and let them not come into thy justice.

68:29. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; and with the just let them not be written.

68:30. But I am poor and sorrowful: thy salvation, O God, hath set me up.

68:31. I will praise the name of God with a canticle: and I will magnify him with praise.

68:32. And it shall please God better than a young calf, that bringeth forth horns and hoofs.

68:33. Let the poor see and rejoice: seek ye God, and your soul shall live.

68:34. For the Lord hath heard the poor: and hath not despised his prisoners.

68:35. Let the heavens and the earth praise him; the sea, and every thing that creepeth therein.