[1] "I hate my life, so I will complain without holding back; I will speak because I am so unhappy. [2] I will say to God: Do not hold me guilty, but tell me what you have against me. [3] Does it make you happy to trouble me? Don't you care about me, the work of your hands? Are you happy with the plans of evil people? [4] Do you have human eyes that see as we see? [5] Are your days like the days of humans, and your years like our years? [6] You look for the evil I have done and search for my sin. [7] You know I am not guilty, but no one can save me from your power. [8] "Your hands shaped and made me. Do you now turn around and destroy me? [9] Remember that you molded me like a piece of clay. Will you now turn me back into dust? [10] You formed me inside my mother like cheese formed from milk. [11] You dressed me with skin and flesh; you sewed me together with bones and muscles. [12] You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your care you watched over my life. [13] "But in your heart you hid other plans. I know this was in your mind. [14] If I sinned, you would watch me and would not let my sin go unpunished. [15] How terrible it will be for me if I am guilty! Even if I am right, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and experience only pain. [16] If I hold up my head, you hunt me like a lion and again show your terrible power against me. [17] You bring new witnesses against me and increase your anger against me. Your armies come against me. [18] "So why did you allow me to be born? I wish I had died before anyone saw me. [19] I wish I had never lived, but had been carried straight from birth to the grave. [20] The few days of my life are almost over. Leave me alone so I can have a moment of joy. [21] Soon I will leave; I will not return from the land of darkness and gloom, [22] the land of darkest night, from the land of gloom and confusion, where even the light is darkness."
