Daily Bread

² “When will you end these speeches?^(B)
    Be sensible, and then we can talk.
³ Why are we regarded as cattle^(C)
    and considered stupid in your sight?^(D)
4 You who tear yourself^(E) to pieces in your anger,^(F)
    is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?
    Or must the rocks be moved from their place?^(G)

⁵ “The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;^(H)
    the flame of his fire stops burning.^(I)
6 The light in his tent^(J) becomes dark;^(K)
    the lamp beside him goes out.^(L)
7 The vigor^(M) of his step is weakened;^(N)
    his own schemes^(O) throw him down.^(P)
8 His feet thrust him into a net;^(Q)
    he wanders into its mesh.
⁹ A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare^(R) holds him fast.^(S)
10 A noose^(T) is hidden for him on the ground;
    a trap^(U) lies in his path.^(V)
11 Terrors^(W) startle him on every side^(X)
    and dog^(Y) his every step.
¹² Calamity^(Z) is hungry^(AA) for him;
    disaster^(AB) is ready for him when he falls.^(AC)
13 It eats away parts of his skin;^(AD)
    death’s firstborn devours his limbs.^(AE)
14 He is torn from the security of his tent^(AF)
    and marched off to the king^(AG) of terrors.^(AH)
15 Fire resides^[a] in his tent;^(AI)
    burning sulfur^(AJ) is scattered over his dwelling.
¹⁶ His roots dry up below^(AK)
    and his branches wither above.^(AL)
17 The memory of him perishes from the earth;^(AM)
    he has no name^(AN) in the land.^(AO)
18 He is driven from light into the realm of darkness^(AP)
    and is banished^(AQ) from the world.^(AR)
19 He has no offspring^(AS) or descendants^(AT) among his people,
    no survivor^(AU) where once he lived.^(AV)
20 People of the west are appalled^(AW) at his fate;^(AX)
    those of the east are seized with horror.
²¹ Surely such is the dwelling^(AY) of an evil man;^(AZ)
    such is the place^(BA) of one who does not know God.”^(BB)

² “How long will you torment^(BC) me
    and crush^(BD) me with words?
³ Ten times^(BE) now you have reproached^(BF) me;
    shamelessly you attack me.
⁴ If it is true that I have gone astray,
    my error^(BG) remains my concern alone.
⁵ If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me^(BH)
    and use my humiliation against me,
⁶ then know that God has wronged me^(BI)
    and drawn his net^(BJ) around me.^(BK)

⁷ “Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;^(BL)
    though I call for help,^(BM) there is no justice.^(BN)
8 He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;^(BO)
    he has shrouded my paths in darkness.^(BP)
9 He has stripped^(BQ) me of my honor^(BR)
    and removed the crown from my head.^(BS)
10 He tears me down^(BT) on every side till I am gone;
    he uproots my hope^(BU) like a tree.^(BV)
11 His anger^(BW) burns against me;
    he counts me among his enemies.^(BX)
12 His troops advance in force;^(BY)
    they build a siege ramp^(BZ) against me
    and encamp around my tent.^(CA)

¹³ “He has alienated my family^(CB) from me;
    my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.^(CC)
14 My relatives have gone away;
    my closest friends^(CD) have forgotten me.
¹⁵ My guests^(CE) and my female servants^(CF) count me a foreigner;
    they look on me as on a stranger.
¹⁶ I summon my servant, but he does not answer,
    though I beg him with my own mouth.
¹⁷ My breath is offensive to my wife;
    I am loathsome^(CG) to my own family.
¹⁸ Even the little boys^(CH) scorn me;
    when I appear, they ridicule me.^(CI)
19 All my intimate friends^(CJ) detest me;^(CK)
    those I love have turned against me.^(CL)
20 I am nothing but skin and bones;^(CM)
    I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.^[b]

²¹ “Have pity on me, my friends,^(CN) have pity,
    for the hand of God has struck^(CO) me.
²² Why do you pursue^(CP) me as God does?^(CQ)
    Will you never get enough of my flesh?^(CR)

²³ “Oh, that my words were recorded,
    that they were written on a scroll,^(CS)
24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool^(CT) on^[c] lead,
    or engraved in rock forever!^(CU)
25 I know that my redeemer^[d](CV) lives,^(CW)
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.^[e]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
    yet^[f] in^[g] my flesh I will see God;^(CX)
27 I myself will see him
    with my own eyes^(CY)—I, and not another.
    How my heart yearns^(CZ) within me!

²⁸ “If you say, ‘How we will hound^(DA) him,
    since the root of the trouble lies in him,^[h]’
²⁹ you should fear the sword yourselves;
    for wrath will bring punishment by the sword,^(DB)
    and then you will know that there is judgment.^[i]”^(DC)