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The Meaning of Suffering

I am a man who has seen the suffering
    that comes from the rod of the Lord’s anger.
He led me
    into darkness, not light.
He turned his hand against me
    again and again, all day long.

He caused my flesh and skin to wear out.
    He broke my bones.
He surrounded me and attacked me
    with sadness and grief.
He made me sit in the dark,
    like someone who has been dead a long time.

He shut me in so I could not get out.
    He put heavy chains on me.
I cry out and beg for help.
    But he ignores my prayer.
He has blocked my way with stones.
    He has made my life difficult.

10 The Lord is like a bear ready to attack me.
    He is like a lion in hiding.
11 He led me the wrong way and tore me to pieces.
    He left me without help.
12 He prepared to shoot his bow.
    He made me the target for his arrows.

13 He shot me in the kidneys
    with the arrows from his arrow bag.
14 I have become a joke to all my people.
    All day long they make fun of me with songs.
15 The Lord filled me with misery.
    He filled me with suffering.

16 The Lord broke my teeth with gravel.
    He crushed me into the dirt.
17 I have no more peace.
    I have forgotten what happiness is.
18 I said, “My strength is gone.
    I have no more hope that the Lord will help me.”

19 Lord, remember my suffering and how I have no home.
    Remember the misery and suffering.
20 I remember them well.
    And I am very sad.
21 But I have hope
    when I think of this:

22 The Lord’s love never ends.
    His mercies never stop.
23 They are new every morning.
    Lord, your loyalty is great.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is what I have left.
    So I have hope.”

25 The Lord is good to those who put their hope in him.
    He is good to those who look to him for help.
26 It is good to wait quietly
    for the Lord to save.
27 It is good for a man to work hard
    while he is young.

28 He should sit alone and be quiet
    because the Lord has given him hard work to do.
29 He should bow to the Lord with his face to the ground.
    Maybe there is still hope.
30 He should offer his cheek if someone wants to hit him.
    He should be filled with shame.

31 The Lord will not reject
    his people forever.
32 Although the Lord brings sorrow, he also has mercy.
    His love is great.
33 The Lord does not like to punish people
    or make them sad.

34 The Lord sees if any prisoner of the earth
    is crushed under his feet.
35 He sees if someone is treated unfairly
    before the Most High God.
36 The Lord sees
    if someone is cheated in his case in court.

37 Nobody can speak and have it happen
    unless the Lord commands it.
38 Both bad and good things
    come by the command of the Most High God.
39 No man should complain
    when he is punished for his sins.

40 Let us examine and look at what we have done.
    Then let us return to the Lord.
41 Let us lift up our hands and pray from our hearts.
    Let us say to God in heaven,
42 “We have sinned and turned against you.
    And you have not forgiven us.

43 “You wrapped yourself in anger and chased us.
    You killed us without mercy.
44 You wrapped yourself in a cloud.
    No prayer could get through.
45 You made us like scum and trash
    among the other nations.

46 “All of our enemies
    open their mouths and say things against us.
47 We have been frightened and fearful.
    We have been ruined and destroyed.”
48 Streams of tears flow from my eyes
    because my people are destroyed.

49 My tears flow continually,
    without stopping,
50 until the Lord looks down
    and sees from heaven.
51 I am sad when I see
    what has happened to all the women of my city.

52 Those who are my enemies for no reason
    hunted me like a bird.
53 They threw me alive into a pit.
    They threw stones at me.
54 Water came up over my head.
    I said to myself, “I am going to die.”
55 I called out to you, Lord,
    from the bottom of the pit.
56 You heard me calling, “Do not close your ears.
    Do not ignore my cry for help.”
57 You came close when I called out to you.
    You said, “Don’t be afraid.”

58 Lord, you have taken my case.
    You have given me back my life.
59 Lord, you have seen how I have been wronged.
    Now judge my case for me.
60 You have seen how my enemies took revenge on me.
    You have seen all their evil plans against me.

61 Lord, you have heard their insults
    and all their evil plans against me.
62 The words and thoughts of my enemies
    are against me all the time.
63 Look! In everything they do
    they make fun of me with songs.

64 Punish them as they should be punished, Lord.
    Pay them back for what they have done.
65 Make them stubborn.
    Put your curse on them.
66 Chase them in anger.
    Destroy them from the Lord’s earth.

Isa ako sa mga nakaranas ng parusa ng Panginoon dahil sa kanyang galit. Pinalayas niya ako at pinalakad sa dilim sa halip na sa liwanag. Paulit-ulit niya akong pinarusahan araw at gabi. Pinahina ang aking katawan at binali ang aking mga buto. Sinalakay niya ako at ibinilanggo sa paghihirap at pagdurusa. Inilagay sa kadiliman na parang isang tao na matagal nang patay. Kinadena niya ako at ikinulong upang hindi makatakas. Kahit na humingi ako ng tulong, hindi niya ako pinakinggan. Hinarangan niya ng pader ang aking landas, at pinaliku-liko ang aking dadaanan. 10 Para siyang oso o leon na nag-aabang upang salakayin ako. 11 Kinaladkad ako palayo sa daan at pagkatapos ay nilapa at iniwan. 12 Iniumang niya ang kanyang pana at itinutok sa akin. 13 Pinana niya ako at tumagos ito sa puso ko. 14 Naging katawa-tawa ako sa aking mga kalahi. Buong araw nila akong inaawitan ng pangungutya. 15 Pinuno niya ako ng labis na kapaitan. 16 Nabungi ang mga ngipin ko dahil pinakain niya ako ng graba, at saka tinapak-tapakan niya ako sa lupa. 17 Inalis niya ako sa maganda kong kalagayan at hindi ko na naranasan ang kasaganaan.

18 Nawala na ang karangalan ko at lahat ng pag-asa sa Panginoon. 19 Napakasakit isipin ang mga paghihirap at pagdurusa ko. 20 At kung palagi ko itong iisipin, manghihina ako. 21 Pero nanunumbalik ang pag-asa ko kapag naaalala ko na 22 ang pag-ibig at awa ng Panginoon ay walang katapusan. Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit hindi tayo lubusang nalipol. 23 Araw-araw ay ipinapakita niya ang kanyang habag. Dakila ang katapatan ng Panginoon! 24 Kaya sinabi ko sa aking sarili, “Ang Panginoon ang lahat para sa akin, kaya sa kanya ako nagtitiwala.” 25 Mabuti ang Panginoon sa mga nagtitiwalaʼt umaasa sa kanya. 26 Mabuting matiyagang maghintay sa pagliligtas ng Panginoon. 27 Mabuti para sa isang tao na kahit bata pa ay matuto nang sumunod. 28 Kapag tinuturuan tayo ng Panginoon, tumahimik tayo at pag-isipan itong mabuti. 29 Magpakumbaba tayo sa harap ng Panginoon at huwag mawalan ng pag-asa. 30 Kapag sinampal ka sa isang pisngi, ibigay mo pa ang kabila. At tanggapin mo rin ang pangungutya ng iyong mga kaaway. 31 Dahil hindi tayo itatakwil ng Panginoon magpakailanman. 32 Pero kahit nagpaparusa siya, ipinapakita pa rin niya ang kanyang habag at ang napakalakiʼt walang hanggan niyang pag-ibig sa atin. 33 Dahil hindi siya natutuwa na tayoʼy saktan o pahirapan.

34 Ayaw ng Panginoon na apihin ang mga bilanggo, 35 o balewalain ang karapatan ng tao. 36 Ayaw din ng Kataas-taasang Dios na ipagkait ang katarungan sa sinumang tao. Nakikita niya ang lahat ng ito.

37 Walang anumang bagay na nangyayari na hindi pinahihintulutan ng Panginoon. 38 Ang Kataas-taasang Dios ang nagpapasya kung ang isang bagay na mabuti o masama ay mangyayari. 39 Kaya bakit tayo magrereklamo kung pinarurusahan tayo dahil sa ating kasalanan? 40 Ang dapat ay siyasatin natin ang ating pamumuhay at magbalik-loob sa Panginoon. 41 Buksan natin ang ating mga puso at itaas ang ating mga kamay sa Dios na nasa langit at sabihin: 42 Panginoon, nagkasala po kami at naghimagsik sa inyo, at hindi nʼyo kami pinatawad. 43 Nagalit kayo sa amin at inusig kami at walang awang pinatay. 44 Tinakpan nʼyo ng mga ulap ang inyong sarili para hindi nʼyo marinig ang aming mga dalangin. 45 Ginawa nʼyo kaming parang basura sa paningin ng ibaʼt ibang bansa. 46 Kinutya kami ng lahat ng aming mga kaaway. 47 Dumanas kami ng matinding takot, panganib, pagkasira at kapahamakan.”

48 Napaluha ako dahil sa kapahamakang sinapit ng aking mga kalahi.

49 Patuloy akong iiyak 50 hanggang sa tumunghay ang Panginoon mula sa langit. 51 Labis akong nasaktan sa sinapit ng mga kababaihan ng aking lungsod.

52 Hinahabol ako ng aking mga kaaway na parang isang ibon, kahit na wala naman akong nagawang kasalanan sa kanila. 53 Sinubukan nila akong patayin sa pamamagitan ng pambabato at paghulog sa balon. 54 Halos malunod na ako at ang akala koʼy mamamatay na ako.

55 Doon sa ilalim ng balon, tumawag ako sa inyo Panginoon. 56 Pinakinggan nʼyo ang pagmamakaawa ko at paghingi ng tulong. 57 Dumating kayo nang akoʼy tumawag at sinabi nʼyong huwag akong matakot. 58 Tinulungan nʼyo ako sa problema ko Panginoon, at iniligtas nʼyo ang buhay ko. 59 Panginoon, nakita nʼyo ang kasamaang ginawa sa akin ng aking mga kaaway, kaya bigyan nʼyo ako ng katarungan. 60 Alam nʼyo kung paano nila ako pinaghigantihan at ang lahat ng binabalak nila laban sa akin. 61 Napakinggan nʼyo, O Panginoon, ang mga pangungutya nila at alam nʼyo ang lahat ng binabalak nila laban sa akin. 62 Buong araw nilang pinag-uusapan ang pinaplano nilang masama laban sa akin. 63 Masdan nʼyo, nakaupo man sila o nakatayo, kinukutya nila ako sa pamamagitan ng pag-awit. 64 Panginoon, parusahan nʼyo sila ayon sa kanilang ginagawa. 65 Patigasin nʼyo ang mga puso nila at sumpain nʼyo sila. 66 Sa galit nʼyo Panginoon, habulin nʼyo sila at lipulin nang mawala na sila sa mundong ito.

I Am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.

Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.

My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.

He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.

He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.

He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.

Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.

He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.

10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.

11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.

12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.

13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.

14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.

15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.

16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.

17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.

18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:

19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.

29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.

30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.

35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,

36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.

41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

42 We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.

43 Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.

44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.

45 Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.

46 All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.

47 Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.

48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

49 Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission.

50 Till the Lord look down, and behold from heaven.

51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.

52 Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.

53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.

54 Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.

55 I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon.

56 Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.

57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.

58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

59 O Lord, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.

60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.

61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, and all their imaginations against me;

62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.

63 Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.

64 Render unto them a recompence, O Lord, according to the work of their hands.

65 Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.

66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the Lord.