17. My breath is repulsive to my wife, though I make supplication for the children of my own body.
18. Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spoke against me.
19. All my close friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved have turned against me.
20. My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
21. Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O you my friends; for the hand of God has touched me.
22. Why do you persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
23. Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24. That they were engraved with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever!