< Job 10 >
1 My soule is cut off though I liue: I wil leaue my complaint vpon my selfe, and wil speake in the bitternesse of my soule.
My soul hath been weary of my life, I leave off my talking to myself, I speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say vnto God, Condemne mee not: shew me, wherefore thou contendest with mee.
I say unto God, 'Do not condemn me, Let me know why Thou dost strive [with] me.
3 Thinkest thou it good to oppresse me, and to cast off the labour of thine handes, and to fauour the counsel of the wicked?
Is it good for Thee that Thou dost oppress? That Thou despisest the labour of Thy hands, And on the counsel of the wicked hast shone?
4 Hast thou carnall eyes? or doest thou see as man seeth?
Eyes of flesh hast Thou? As man seeth — seest Thou?
5 Are thy dayes as mans dayes? or thy yeres, as the time of man,
As the days of man [are] Thy days? Thy years as the days of a man?
6 That thou inquirest of mine iniquitie, and searchest out my sinne?
That Thou inquirest for mine iniquity, And for my sin seekest?
7 Thou knowest that I can not do wickedly: for none can deliuer me out of thine hand.
For Thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is no deliverer from Thy hand.
8 Thine handes haue made me, and fashioned mee wholy rounde about, and wilt thou destroy me?
Thy hands have taken pains about me, And they make me together round about, And Thou swallowest me up!
9 Remember, I pray thee, that thou hast made me as the clay, and wilt thou bring me into dust againe?
Remember, I pray Thee, That as clay Thou hast made me, And unto dust Thou dost bring me back.
10 Hast thou not powred me out as milke? and turned me to cruds like cheese?
Dost Thou not as milk pour me out? And as cheese curdle me?
11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and ioyned me together with bones and sinewes.
Skin and flesh Thou dost put on me, And with bones and sinews dost fence me.
12 Thou hast giuen me life, and grace: and thy visitation hath preserued my spirit.
Life and kindness Thou hast done with me. And Thy inspection hath preserved my spirit.
13 Though thou hast hid these things in thine heart, yet I knowe that it is so with thee.
And these Thou hast laid up in Thy heart, I have known that this [is] with Thee.
14 If I haue sinned, then thou wilt streightly looke vnto me, and wilt not holde mee giltlesse of mine iniquitie.
If I sinned, then Thou hast observed me, And from mine iniquity dost not acquit me,
15 If I haue done wickedly, wo vnto me: if I haue done righteously, I will not lift vp mine head, being full of confusion, because I see mine affliction.
If I have done wickedly — woe to me, And righteously — I lift not up my head, Full of shame — then see my affliction,
16 But let it increase: hunt thou me as a lyon: returne and shew thy selfe marueilous vpon me.
And it riseth — as a lion Thou huntest me. And Thou turnest back — Thou shewest Thyself wonderful in me.
17 Thou renuest thy plagues against me, and thou increasest thy wrath against me: changes and armies of sorowes are against me.
Thou renewest Thy witnesses against me, And dost multiply Thine anger with me, Changes and warfare [are] with me.
18 Wherfore then hast thou brought me out of the wombe? Oh that I had perished, and that none eye had seene me!
And why from the womb Hast Thou brought me forth? I expire, and the eye doth not see me.
19 And that I were as I had not bene, but brought from the wombe to the graue!
As I had not been, I am, From the belly to the grave I am brought,
20 Are not my dayes fewe? let him cease, and leaue off from me, that I may take a litle comfort,
Are not my days few? Cease then, and put from me, And I brighten up a little,
21 Before I goe and shall not returne, euen to the land of darkenesse and shadow of death:
Before I go, and return not, Unto a land of darkness and death-shade,
22 Into a land, I say, darke as darknes it selfe, and into the shadow of death, where is none order, but the light is there as darkenesse.
A land of obscurity as thick darkness, Death-shade — and no order, And the shining [is] as thick darkness.'