< Job 10 >
1 My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
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 unto God, Do not condemn me; show me wherefore you contend with me.
I say unto God, 'Do not condemn me, Let me know why Thou dost strive [with] me.
3 Is it good unto you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and shine upon 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 Have you eyes of flesh? or see you as man sees?
Eyes of flesh hast Thou? As man seeth — seest Thou?
5 Are your days as the days of man? are your years as man's days,
As the days of man [are] Thy days? Thy years as the days of a man?
6 That you enquire after mine iniquity, and search after my sin?
That Thou inquirest for mine iniquity, And for my sin seekest?
7 You know that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of your hand.
For Thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is no deliverer from Thy hand.
8 your hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet you do destroy me.
Thy hands have taken pains about me, And they make me together round about, And Thou swallowest me up!
9 Remember, I plead to you, that you have made me as the clay; and will you bring me into dust again?
Remember, I pray Thee, That as clay Thou hast made me, And unto dust Thou dost bring me back.
10 Have you not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?
Dost Thou not as milk pour me out? And as cheese curdle me?
11 You have clothed me with skin and flesh, and have fenced me with bones and sinews.
Skin and flesh Thou dost put on me, And with bones and sinews dost fence me.
12 You have granted me life and favour, and your visitation has preserved my spirit.
Life and kindness Thou hast done with me. And Thy inspection hath preserved my spirit.
13 And these things have you hid in your heart: I know that this is with you.
And these Thou hast laid up in Thy heart, I have known that this [is] with Thee.
14 If I sin, then you mark me, and you will not acquit me from mine iniquity.
If I sinned, then Thou hast observed me, And from mine iniquity dost not acquit me,
15 If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see you 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 For it increases. You hunt me as a fierce lion: and again you show yourself marvellous upon me.
And it riseth — as a lion Thou huntest me. And Thou turnest back — Thou shewest Thyself wonderful in me.
17 You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.
Thou renewest Thy witnesses against me, And dost multiply Thine anger with me, Changes and warfare [are] with me.
18 Wherefore then have you brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the spirit, and no eye had seen me!
And why from the womb Hast Thou brought me forth? I expire, and the eye doth not see me.
19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
As I had not been, I am, From the belly to the grave I am brought,
20 Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
Are not my days few? Cease then, and put from me, And I brighten up a little,
21 Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
Before I go, and return not, Unto a land of darkness and death-shade,
22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
A land of obscurity as thick darkness, Death-shade — and no order, And the shining [is] as thick darkness.'