Job 10
1 My soul hath been weary of my life, I leave off my talking to myself, I speak in the bitterness of my soul.
“I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I say unto God, 'Do not condemn me, Let me know why Thou dost strive [with] me.
I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.
3 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?
Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?
4 Eyes of flesh hast Thou? As man seeth — seest Thou?
Do You have eyes of flesh? Do You see as man sees?
5 As the days of man [are] Thy days? Thy years as the days of a man?
Are Your days like those of a mortal, or Your years like those of a man,
6 That Thou inquirest for mine iniquity, And for my sin seekest?
that You should seek my iniquity and search out my sin—
7 For Thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is no deliverer from Thy hand.
though You know that I am not guilty, and there is no deliverance from Your hand?
8 Thy hands have taken pains about me, And they make me together round about, And Thou swallowest me up!
Your hands shaped me and altogether formed me. Would You now turn and destroy me?
9 Remember, I pray Thee, That as clay Thou hast made me, And unto dust Thou dost bring me back.
Please remember that You molded me like clay. Would You now return me to dust?
10 Dost Thou not as milk pour me out? And as cheese curdle me?
Did You not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese?
11 Skin and flesh Thou dost put on me, And with bones and sinews dost fence me.
You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.
12 Life and kindness Thou hast done with me. And Thy inspection hath preserved my spirit.
You have granted me life and loving devotion, and Your care has preserved my spirit.
13 And these Thou hast laid up in Thy heart, I have known that this [is] with Thee.
Yet You concealed these things in Your heart, and I know that this was in Your mind:
14 If I sinned, then Thou hast observed me, And from mine iniquity dost not acquit me,
If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity.
15 If I have done wickedly — woe to me, And righteously — I lift not up my head, Full of shame — then see my affliction,
If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.
16 And it riseth — as a lion Thou huntest me. And Thou turnest back — Thou shewest Thyself wonderful in me.
Should I hold my head high, You would hunt me like a lion, and again display Your power against me.
17 Thou renewest Thy witnesses against me, And dost multiply Thine anger with me, Changes and warfare [are] with me.
You produce new witnesses against me and multiply Your anger toward me. Hardships assault me in wave after wave.
18 And why from the womb Hast Thou brought me forth? I expire, and the eye doth not see me.
Why then did You bring me from the womb? Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me!
19 As I had not been, I am, From the belly to the grave I am brought,
If only I had never come to be, but had been carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few? Cease then, and put from me, And I brighten up a little,
Are my days not few? Withdraw from me, that I may have a little comfort,
21 Before I go, and return not, Unto a land of darkness and death-shade,
before I go—never to return— to a land of darkness and gloom,
22 A land of obscurity as thick darkness, Death-shade — and no order, And the shining [is] as thick darkness.'
to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”
