1 أ نا هُوَ الرَّجُلُ المُتَألِّمُ! لَمّا ضَرَبَنِي اللهُ بِعَصا غَضَبِهِ.

I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of His wrath.

2 س اقَنِي وَأجبَرَنِي عَلَى المَسِيرِ فِي الظُّلْمَةِ، لا فِي النُّورِ.

He has led me and brought me into darkness and not light.

3 ل َطَمَنِي بِيَدِهِ مَرَّةً بَعْدَ مَرَّةٍ، طَوالَ اليَوْمِ.

Surely He has turned away from me; His hand is against me all the day.

4 أ بلَى لَحمِي وَجِلْدِي، وَكَسَّرَ عِظامِي.

My flesh and my skin has He worn out and made old; He has shattered my bones.

5 ح َشَدَ اللهُ جُيُوشاً ضِدِّي، وَحاصَرَنِي بِالفَقْرِ وَالتَّعَبِ.

He has built up against me and surrounded me with bitterness, tribulation, and anguish.

6 أ جلَسَنِي فِي ظُلْمَةٍ كَثِيفَةٍ كَما المَوْتَى مُنْذُ القِدَمِ.

He has caused me to dwell in dark places like those long dead.

7 ب َنَى جِداراً حَولِي لِئَلّا أهرُبَ، وَوَضَعَ عَلَيَّ سَلاسِلَ ثَقِيلَةً.

He walled me in so that I cannot get out; He has weighted down my chain.

8 ص َرَخْتُ وَاستَغَثْتُ، لَكِنَّهُ تَجاهَلَ صَلاتِي.

Even when I cry and shout for help, He shuts out my prayer.

9 س َوَّرَ طُرُقِي بِحِجارَةٍ مَنحُوتَةٍ. عَوَّجَ سُبُلِي.

He has enclosed my ways with hewn stone; He has made my paths crooked.

10 ي َتَرَبَّصُ بِي كَدُبٍّ، كَأسَدٍ فِي مَكْمَنِهِ.

He is to me like a bear lying in wait, and like a lion in secret places.

11 ط ارَدَنِي وَأبعَدَنِي عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ، مَزَّقَنِي إرَباً. وَتَرَكَنِي خَراباً.

He has turned me off my ways and pulled me in pieces; He has made me desolate.

12 ح َنَى قَوْسَهُ، وَنَصَبَنِي هَدَفاً لِسِهامِهِ.

He has bent His bow and set me as a mark for the arrow.

13 أ صابَ كُلْيَتَيَّ بِسِهامٍ سَحَبَها مِنْ جُعْبَتِهِ.

He has caused the arrows of His quiver to enter into my heart.

14 ص ِرْتُ أُضحُوكَةً لِكُلِّ شَعبِي، وَأُغنِيَةً يَتَسَلُّونَ بِها طَوالَ اليَوْمِ.

I have become a derision to all my people, and their singsong all the day.

15 م َلأنِي بِكُلِّ مَرارَةٍ، وَسَقانِي أمَرَّ شَرابٍ.

He has filled me with bitterness; He has made me drink to excess and until drunken with wormwood.

16 أ عطانِي حَصَىً لِأمضَغَ فَتَفَتَّتَتْ أسنانِي. سَحَقَنِي فِي التُّرابِ بِقَدَمَيهِ.

He has also broken my teeth with gravel (stones); He has covered me with ashes.

17 م َنَعَ عَنْ نَفسِيَ السَّلامَ. وَنَسِيتُ ما هُوَ «الخَيرُ.»

And You have bereaved my soul and cast it off far from peace; I have forgotten what good and happiness are.

18 ق ُلْتُ لِنَفْسِي: «ضاعَ نَصْرِي الَّذِي رَجَوْتُهُ! لَنْ يُنقِذَنِي اللهُ.»

And I say, Perished is my strength and my expectation from the Lord.

19 أ تَذَكَّرُ ألَمِي وَتَشَرُّدِي، كَسُمٍّ وَمَرارَةٍ.

remember my affliction and my misery, my wandering and my outcast state, the wormwood and the gall.

20 ت َتَذَكَّرُ نَفسِي حَقّاً كُلَّ مَتاعِبِي، فَتَكتَئِبُ.

My soul has them continually in remembrance and is bowed down within me.

21 ل َكِنِّي أتَذَكَّرُ شَيئاً آخَرَ، فَيَتَوَّلَّدُ فِيَّ رَجاءٌ.

But this I recall and therefore have I hope and expectation:

22 إ حساناتُ اللهِ لا تَتَوَقَّفُ، وَمَراحِمُهُ لا تَنْتَهِي.

It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

23 ف َهِيَ جَدِيدَةٌ مَعَ كُلِّ صَباحٍ. عَظِيمَةٌ أمانَتُكَ.

They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.

24 ن َفسيِ تَقُولُ: « اللهُ قِسْمَتِي.» وَلِهَذا أنتَظِرُهُ وَأضَعُ رَجائِي فِيهِ.

The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.

25 ص الِحٌ هُوَ اللهُ لِمَنْ يَنتَظِرُهُ. صالِحٌ لِلَّذِي يَطلُبُهُ.

The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him.

26 ح َسَنٌ لِلمَرْءِ أنْ يَرجُوَ بِهُدُوءٍ خَلاصَ اللهِ.

It is good that one should hope in and wait quietly for the salvation (the safety and ease) of the Lord.

27 ح َسَنٌ لِلرَّجُلِ أنْ يَحمِلَ المَسؤُولِيَّةَ فِي شَبابِهِ.

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

28 أ نْ يَجلِسَ وَحدَهُ وَيَسكُتَ، عِندَما يَضَعُ اللهُ المَسؤُولِيَّةَ عَلَيهِ.

Let him sit alone uncomplaining and keeping silent, because has laid upon him.

29 أ نْ يَضَعَ فَمَهُ فِي التُّرابِ مُنكَسِراً، فَلَعَلَّهُ يَكُونُ لَهُ رَجاءٌ.

Let him put his mouth in the dust —there may yet be hope.

30 أ نْ يُعطِيَ خَدَّهُ لِلَّذِي يَضرِبُهُ، وَيَشْبَعَ مَهانَةً.

Let him give his cheek to the One Who smites him; let him be filled with reproach.

31 ل ِأنَّ الرَّبَّ لا يَرفُضُ البَشَرَ إلَى الأبَدِ.

For the Lord will not cast off forever!

32 ل ِأنَّهُ وَلَوْ ابتَلَى يُظهِرُ الرَّحمَةَ أيضاً، بِحَسَبِ فَيْضِ مَحَبَّتِهِ الثَّابِتَةِ.

But though He causes grief, yet will He be moved to compassion according to the multitude of His loving-kindness and tender mercy.

33 ل ِأنَّهُ لا يُؤذِيَ وَلا يُحزِنُ أحَدَا عَنْ طِيبِ خاطِرٍ.

For He does not willingly and from His heart afflict or grieve the children of men.

34 ل ا يَفرَحُ حِينَ يَسحَقُ واحِداً مِنّا نَحنُ البَشَرَ المَحجُوزِينَ فِي الأرْضِ.

To trample and crush underfoot all the prisoners of the earth,

35 و َلا يَفرَحُ حِينَ يُعَوِّجُ أحَدُهُمُ العَدالَةَ وَيَغِشَّ آخَرَ أمامَ عَينَيهِ.

To turn aside and deprive a man of his rights before the face of the Most High or a superior,

36 ح ِينَ يُغتَصَبُ حَقُّ إنسانٌ فِي المَحكَمَةِ، ألا يَرَى الرَّبُّ ذَلِكَ؟

To subvert a man in his cause— the Lord does not approve.

37 م َنِ الَّذِي يَقُولُ فَيَصِيرَ، إلّا إنْ أمَرَ اللهُ بِحُدُوثِهِ؟

Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, if the Lord has not authorized and commanded it?

38 أ لا تَخرُجُ بِأمْرِ العَلِيِّ الأُمُورُ السَّيِّئَةُ وَالحَسَنَةُ مَعاً؟

Is it not out of the mouth of the Most High that evil and good both proceed ?

39 ل ِماذا يَتَذَمَّرُ إنسانٌ حَيٌّ مِنْ مُعاقَبَتِهِ عَلَى خَطاياهُ؟

Why does a living man sigh ? a man complain for the punishment of his sins?

40 ل ِنَفحَصْ سُلُوكَنا وَنُدَقِّقْ فِيهِ، وَلنَرجِعْ إلَى اللهِ.

Let us test and examine our ways, and let us return to the Lord!

41 ل ِنَرفَعْ قُلُوبَنا مَعَ أيدِينا إلَى اللهِ فِي السَّماواتِ.

Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven:

42 ت َمَرَّدْنا وَعَصَيْنا. وَأنتَ لَمْ تَغفِرْ لَنا.

We have transgressed and rebelled and You have not pardoned.

43 غ َطَّيتَنا بِغَضَبِكَ وَطارَدْتَنا. قَتَلْتَ بِلا رَحمَةٍ.

You have covered Yourself with wrath and pursued and afflicted us; You have slain without pity.

44 ت َغَطَّيتَ بِسَحابَةٍ، مانِعاً كُلَّ صَلاةٍ مِنَ الوُصُولِ إلَيكَ.

You have covered Yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through.

45 ج َعَلْتَنا نَبدُو وَسَخاً وَقُمامَةً بَينَ شُعُوبٍ كَثِيرَةٍ.

You have made us offscouring and refuse among the nations.

46 ي َفتَحُ أعداؤُنا كُلُّهُمْ أفواهَهُمْ عَلَينا مُستَهزِئِينَ.

All our enemies have gaped at us and railed against us.

47 و َقَعَ عَلَينا رُعبٌ وَخَطَرٌ، دَمارٌ وَهَلاكٌ.

Fear and pitfall have come upon us, devastation and destruction.

48 ج َداوِلُ ماءٍ تَجرِي مِنْ عَينَيَّ بِسَبَبِ دَمارِ ابْنَةِ شَعبِي.

My eyes overflow with streams of tears because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.

49 ت َسكُبُ عَينِي دُمُوعاً بِلا انقِطاعٍ.

My eyes overflow continually and will not cease

50 س َأبكِي إلَى أنْ يَنظُرَ اللهُ مِنَ السَّماواتِ، وَيَرَى ما يَجرِي.

Until the Lord looks down and sees from heaven.

51 أ تعَسَتْ عَينِي نَفسِي بِسَبَبِ بُكائِي عَلَى مَدِينَتِي.

My eyes cause me grief at the fate of all the maidens of my city.

52 ا لَّذِينَ عادُونِي دُونَ داعٍ، اصطادُونِي كَعُصْفُورٍ.

I have been hunted down like a bird by those who were my enemies without cause.

53 ح اوَلُوا أنْ يُنهُوا حَياتِي بِإلقائِي فِي هاوِيَةٍ. وَألقَوْا عَلَيَّ حِجارَةً.

They destroyed my life in the dungeon (pit) and cast a stone above me.

54 ط َغَتِ المِياهُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِي، فَقُلْتُ: «انتَهَى أمرِي.»

The waters ran down on my head; I said, I am gone.

55 ب ِاسْمِكَ أدعُو يا اللهُ مِنْ أعمَقِ حُفرَةٍ.

I called upon Your name, O Lord, out of the depths of the dungeon.

56 أ تَوَسَّلُ إلَيكَ فَاسْمَعْ. وَلا تَسُدَّ أُذُنَيكَ عَنْ تَنَهُّدِي وَاسْتِغاثَتِي!

You heard my voice: hide not Your ear at my prayer for relief.

57 ا قتَرِبْ حِينَ أدعُوكَ. قُلْ لِي: «لا تَخَفْ.»

You drew near on the day I called to You; You said, Fear not.

58 ت َوَلَّ قَضِيَّتِي يا رَبُّ. افْدِ حَياتِي!

O Lord, You have pleaded the causes of my soul; You have rescued and redeemed my life!

59 ا نظُرْ يا اللهُ كَيفَ ظُلِمْتُ. اقْضِ لِي بِالعَدلِ.

O Lord, You have seen my wrong; judge and maintain my cause.

60 ا نظُرْ كُلَّ أعمالِ انتِقامِهِمْ، كُلَّ مُؤامَراتِهِمْ عَلَيَّ!

You have seen all their vengeance, all their devices against me.

61 ا سْمَعْ يا اللهُ تَعيِيرَهُمْ، كُلَّ مُؤامَراتِهِمْ عَلَيَّ!

You have heard their reproach and revilings, O Lord, and all their devices against me—

62 ط َوالَ النَّهارِ يَتَكَلَّمُ أعدائِي عَلَيَّ وَيُطلِقُونَ الشّائِعاتِ.

The lips and thoughts of my assailants are against me all day long.

63 ه ا أنا قَدْ أصبَحتُ أُغنِيَتَهُمُ الَّتِي يَتَنَدَّرُونَ بِها، مِنَ الفَجرِ إلَى الغَسَقِ.

Look at their sitting down and their rising up; I am their singsong.

64 ل َيتَكَ يا اللهُ تُجازِيهِمْ حَسْبَ ما فَعَلَتْهُ أيادِيهِمْ.

Render to them a recompense, O Lord, according to the work of their hands.

65 ض َعْ عَذاباً فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلْتَكُنْ عَلَيهِمْ لَعنَتُكَ.

You will give them hardness and blindness of heart; Your curse will be upon them.

66 ط ارِدْهُمْ بِغَضَبِكَ، وَافنِهِمْ مِنْ تَحتِ سَماواتِ اللهِ.

You will pursue and afflict them in anger and destroy them from under Your heavens, O Lord.