[1] “I am disgusted with my own life; I will express my complaint freely; 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 work of Your hands, And to look favorably on the plan of the wicked? [4] ‘Do You have eyes of flesh? Or do You see as mankind sees? [5] ‘Are Your days like the days of a mortal, Or Your years like a man’s year, [6] That You should search for my guilt And carefully seek my sin? [7] ‘According to Your knowledge I am indeed not guilty, Yet there is no one to save me from Your hand. [8] ‘Your hands fashioned and made me altogether, Yet would You destroy me? [9] ‘Remember that You have made me as clay; Yet 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 intertwine me with bones and tendons? [12] ‘You have granted me life and goodness; And Your care has guarded my spirit. [13] ‘Yet You have concealed these things in Your heart; I know that this is within You: [14] If I have sinned, You will take note of me, And will not acquit me of my guilt. [15] ‘If I am wicked, woe to me! But if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head. I am full of shame, and conscious of my misery. [16] ‘And should my head be high, You would hunt me like a lion; And You would show Your power against me again. [17] ‘You renew Your witnesses against me And increase Your anger toward me; Hardship after hardship is with me. [18] ‘Why then did You bring me out of the womb? If only I had died and no eye had seen me! [19] ‘I should have been as though I had not been, Brought from womb to tomb.’ [20] “Would He not leave my few days alone? Withdraw from me so that I may have a little cheerfulness [21] Before I go—and I shall not return—To the land of darkness and deep shadow, [22] The land of utter gloom like darkness itself, Of deep shadow without order, And it shines like darkness.”
