[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.”