Even youngsters have scorned me; when I get up, ¹  they scoff at me. ² 

If I lift myself up, ¹  you hunt me as a fierce lion, ²  and again ³  you display your power ⁴  against me.

“This is why ¹  my troubled thoughts bring me back ²  – because of my feelings ³  within me.

Kings reign by means of me, and potentates ¹  decree ²  righteousness;

The father of your nation ¹  sinned; your spokesmen ²  rebelled against me.

They shut me ¹  up in a pit and threw stones at me.

Then the one who appeared to be a human being touched me again ¹  and strengthened me.

I will destroy you, ¹  O Israel! Who ²  is there to help you?

Let none who rely on you be disgraced because of me, O sovereign Lord and king! ¹  Let none who seek you be ashamed because of me, O God of Israel!

They said, “My lord, we did indeed come down ¹  the first time ²  to buy food.

But Moses said, ¹  “O ²  my Lord, please send anyone else whom you wish to send!” ³ 

He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because he was pleased with me. ¹ 

The Lord’s spirit spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.

Is ¹  not my power to help myself nothing, and has not every resource ²  been driven from me?

“Now then, be good enough to look ¹  at me; ²  and I will not ³  lie to your face!

The eye of him who sees me now will see me no more; ¹  your eyes will look for me, but I will be gone. ² 

You have seized me, ¹  and it ²  has become a witness; my leanness ³  has risen up against me and testifies against me.

All my closest friends ¹  detest me; and those whom ²  I love have turned against me. ³ 

for while ¹  my spirit ²  is still in me, and the breath from God is in my nostrils,

I cry out to you, ¹  but you do not answer me; I stand up, ²  and you only look at me. ³