1 « Ma ora mi deridono i più giovani di me, i padri dei quali non mi sarei degnato d'imbrancare coi cani del mio gregge. | 1 But now, those younger in years scorn me, whose fathers I would not have seen fit to place with the dogs of my flock, |
2 Nessun conto facevo della forza delle loro mani, e parevano indegni anche della vita. | 2 the strength of whose hands was nothing to me, and they were considered unworthy of life itself. |
3 Smunti dalla miseria e dalla fame, brucavano il deserto; sfigurati dalla calamità e dalle privazioni, | 3 They were barren from poverty and hunger; they gnawed in solitude, layered with misfortune and misery. |
4 mangiavan l'erba e le cortecce degli alberi e loro cibo era la radice del ginepro. | 4 And they chewed grass and the bark from trees, and the root of junipers was their food. |
5 Andavano a rapirle nelle valli, e, trovata che ne avessero una, vi accorrevan gridando. | 5 They took these things from the steep valleys, and when they discovered one of these things, they rushed to the others with a cry. |
6 Abitavano nei dirupi dei torrenti, nelle caverne della terra o sopra la ghiaia; | 6 They lived in the parched desert and in caves underground or above the rocks. |
7 e in tale stato erano allegri e trovavano le loro delizie nello stare sotto i pruni. | 7 They rejoiced among these kinds of things, and they considered it delightful to be under thorns. |
8 Figlì d'insensati e di vili, non hanno ardire di comparire sulla terra. | 8 These are the sons of foolish and base men, not even paying any attention to the land. |
9 Ed ora io sono il tema delle loro canzoni, son passato fra loro in proverbio. | 9 Now I become their song, and I have been made into their proverb. |
10 Mi aborrono, mi fuggono, non si vergognano di sputacchiarmi la faccia. | 10 They loathe me, and so they flee far from me, and they are not reluctant to spit in my face. |
11 Perchè (Dio) ha aperto il suo turcasso e mi ha trafitto, ha posto un morso alla mia bocca. | 11 For he has opened his quiver and has afflicted me, and he has placed a bridle in my mouth. |
12 Nell'alzarmi subito si levarono le sciagure alla mia destra, rovesciarono i miei piedi, e mi piombarono addosso per le loro vie come flutti. | 12 Immediately, upon rising, my calamities rise up to the right. They have overturned my feet and have pressed me down along their way like waves. |
13 Tagliati i miei sentieri, mi tesero insidie e prevalsero, e nessuno porse aiuto. | 13 They have diverted my journeys; they have waited to ambush me, and they have prevailed, and there was no one who might bring help. |
14 Come per larga breccia, come da porta aperta, irruppero contro di me e si gettarono sopra le mie miserie: | 14 They have rushed upon me, as when a wall is broken or a gate opened, and they have been pulled down into my miseries. |
15 fui annientato. Come vento dileguaron le mie speranze, la mia felicità passò come nube. | 15 I have been reduced to nothing. You have taken away my desire like a wind, and my health has passed by like a cloud. |
16 Ed ora in me si strugge l'anima mia, sono in balìa di giorni tristi. | 16 But now my soul withers within myself, and the days of affliction take hold of me. |
17 La notte mi trafigge dolorosamente le ossa, e quelli che mi divorano non dormono. | 17 At night, my bone is pierced with sorrows, and those who feed on me, do not sleep. |
18 Il loro numero consuma la mia veste, mi stringono come il colletto della tunica. | 18 By the sheer number of them my clothing is worn away, and they have closed in on me like the collar of my coat. |
19 Son diventato come il fango, sono ridotto come polvere e cenere. | 19 I have been treated like dirt, and I have been turned into embers and ashes. |
20 Grido a te, e non mi ascolti, sto davanti a te, e non mi guardi. | 20 I cry to you, and you do not heed me. I stand up, and you do not look back at me. |
21 Sei diventato crudele verso di me e mi combatti colla durezza della tua mano. | 21 You have changed me into hardness, and, with the hardness of your hand, you oppose me. |
22 Mi hai portato per aria, ponendomi come sopra, il vento, e mi hai del tutto sfracellato. | 22 You have lifted me up, and, placing me as if on the wind, you have thrown me down powerfully. |
23 Lo so che mi menerai alla, morte, là dove è assegnata la casa ad ogni vivente, | 23 I know that you will hand me over to death, where a home has been established for all the living. |
24 ma tu non stendi la mano per distruggerli e se cadono tu li salverai. | 24 Truly, then, you do not extend your hand in order to consume them, and if they fall down, you will save them. |
25 Io piangevo una volta sopra l'afflitto e l'anima mia compativa il povero; | 25 Once, I wept over him who was afflicted, and my soul had compassion on the poor. |
26 ma aspettavo il bene e mi vennero le sciagure, speravo la luce e vennero fuori le tenebre. | 26 I expected good things, but evil things have come to me. I stood ready for light, yet darkness burst forth. |
27 Le mie viscere bruciano senza posa, mi son piombati addosso i giorni di afflizione. | 27 My insides have seethed, without any rest, for the days of affliction have prevented it. |
28 Me ne andavo triste, senza furore, mi alzavo e gridavo in mezzo alla folla. | 28 I went forth mourning, without anger, and rising up, I cried out in confusion. |
29 Divenni fratello dei dragoni, e compagno degli struzzi. | 29 I was the brother of snakes, and the companion of ostriches. |
30 La mia pelle mi si è annerita addosso, e le mie ossa sono inaridite dall'ardore. | 30 My skin has become blackened over me, and my bones have dried up because of the heat. |
31 La mia cetra si è mutata in pianto, e il mio organo in voce di piangenti ». | 31 My harp has been turned into mourning, and my pipes have been turned into a voice of weeping. |