For dayand nightYour handwas heavyupon me; My vitalitywas drainedaway [as] with the feverheatof summer.Selah.
"O that a manmight pleadwith GodAs a manwith his neighbor!
"My skinturnsblackon me, And my bonesburnwith fever.
"Behold,nofearof me should terrifyyou, Norshould my pressureweighheavilyon you.
My strengthis driedup like a potsherd,And my tonguecleavesto my jaws;And You layme in the dustof death.
Their appearanceis blackerthansoot,They are not recognizedin the streets;Their skinis shriveledon their bones,It is withered,it has becomelike wood.
Our skinhas becomeas hotas an oven,Becauseof the burningheatof famine.
would you thereforewaituntilthey were grown?Would you thereforerefrainfrom marrying?No,my daughters;for it is harderfor me thanfor you, for the handof the LORDhas goneforthagainst me."
They senttherefore and gatheredallthe lordsof the Philistinesand said,"Sendawaythe arkof the Godof Israel,and let it returnto its own place,sothat it will not killus and our people."For there was a deadlyconfusionthroughoutthe city;the handof Godwas veryheavythere.
Afterthey had broughtit around,the handof the LORDwas against the citywith verygreatconfusion;and He smotethe menof the city,bothyoungand old,so that tumorsbrokeout on them.
"Watch,ifit goesup by the wayof its own territoryto Beth-shemesh,then He has doneus thisgreatevil.But ifnot, then we will knowthat it was not His handthat struckus; it happenedto us by chance."
