I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?

LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?

And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.

Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,

Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.

Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.