Then I said, ¹  “There is no cure ²  for my grief! I am sick at heart!

If indeed ¹  you would exalt yourselves ²  above me and plead my disgrace against me, ³ 

to the accompaniment of a ten-stringed instrument and a lyre, to the accompaniment of the meditative tone of the harp.

You exalted yourselves against me with your speech ¹  and hurled many insults against me ²  – I have heard them all!

Joseph is a fruitful bough, ¹  a fruitful bough near a spring whose branches ²  climb over the wall.

They are like ¹  valleys ²  stretched forth, like gardens by the river’s side, like aloes ³  that the Lord has planted, and like cedar trees beside the waters.

My teaching will drop like the rain, my sayings will drip like the dew, ¹  as rain drops upon the grass, and showers upon new growth.

People ¹  have opened their mouths against me, they have struck my cheek in scorn; ²  they unite ³  together against me.

All who hate me whisper insults about me to one another; ¹  they plan ways to harm me.

Indeed ¹  I am composed and quiet, ²  like a young child carried by its mother; ³  I am content like the young child I carry. ⁴ 

He added, “Just name your wages – I’ll pay whatever you want.” ¹ 

A rope is hidden for him ¹  on the ground and a trap for him ²  lies on the path.

Thus ¹  his anger burns against me, and he considers me among his enemies. ² 

“Yes, I know what you are thinking, ¹  the schemes ²  by which you would wrong me. ³ 

I will sing praises ¹  to the Lord when he vindicates me. ² 

When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly, ¹  and tried to bite me. ² 

Your anger overwhelms me; ¹  your terrors destroy me.

How can I repay the Lord for all his acts of kindness to me?

You squeeze me in from behind and in front; you place your hand on me.

My strength leaves me; ¹  I am absolutely shocked. ²