[1] "I loathe my own life; I will give full vent to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. [2] "I will say to God, 'Do not condemn me; Let me know why You contend with me. [3] 'Is it right for You indeed to oppress, To reject the labor of Your hands, And to look favorably on the schemes of the wicked? [4] 'Have You eyes of flesh? Or do You see as a man sees? [5] 'Are Your days as the days of a mortal, Or Your years as man's years, [6] That You should seek for my guilt And search after my sin? [7] 'According to Your knowledge I am indeed not guilty, Yet there is no deliverance from Your hand. [8] 'Your hands fashioned and made me altogether, And would You destroy me? [9] 'Remember now, that You have made me as clay; And would You turn me into dust again? [10] 'Did You not pour me out like milk And curdle me like cheese; [11] Clothe me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews? [12] 'You have granted me life and lovingkindness; And Your care has preserved my spirit. [13] 'Yet these things You have concealed in Your heart; I know that this is within You: [14] If I sin, then You would take note of me, And would not acquit me of my guilt. [15] 'If I am wicked, woe to me! And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head. I am sated with disgrace and conscious of my misery. [16] 'Should my head be lifted up, You would hunt me like a lion; And again You would show Your power against me. [17] 'You renew Your witnesses against me And increase Your anger toward me; Hardship after hardship is with me. [18] 'Why then have You brought me out of the womb? Would that I had died and no eye had seen me! [19] 'I should have been as though I had not been, Carried from womb to tomb.' [20] "Would He not let my few days alone? Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer [21] Before I go-and I shall not return- To the land of darkness and deep shadow, [22] The land of utter gloom as darkness itself, Of deep shadow without order, And which shines as the darkness."
