1. My woe [is] to me, for I have been As gatherings of summer-fruit, As gleanings of harvest, There is no cluster to eat, The first-ripe fruit desired hath my soul.
2. Perished hath the kind out of the land, And upright among men--there are none, All of them for blood lie in wait, Each his brother they hunt [with] a net.
3. On the evil [are] both hands to do [it] well, The prince is asking--also the judge--for recompence, And the great--he is speaking the mischief of his soul, And they wrap it up.
4. Their best one [is] as a brier, The upright one--than a thorn-hedge, The day of thy watchmen--Thy visitation--hath come. Now is their perplexity.
5. Believe not in a friend, trust not in a leader, From her who is lying in thy bosom keep the openings of thy mouth.
6. For a son is dishonouring a father, A daughter hath stood against her mother, A daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, The enemies of each [are] the men of his house.
7. And I--in Jehovah I do watch, I do wait for the God of my salvation, Hear me doth my God.
8. Thou dost not rejoice over me, O mine enemy, When I have fallen, I have risen, When I sit in darkness Jehovah is a light to me.
9. The indignation of Jehovah I do bear, For I have sinned against Him, Till that He doth plead my cause, And hath executed my judgment, He doth bring me forth to the light, I look on His righteousness.
10. And see doth mine enemy, And cover her doth shame, Who saith unto me, `Where [is] Jehovah thy God?' Mine eyes do look on her, Now she is for a treading-place, As mire of the outplaces.
11. The day to build thy walls! That day--removed is the limit.