< 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.
My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will 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; show me why thou contendest with 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?
[Is it] good to thee that thou shouldst oppress, that thou shouldst despise the work of thy hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
4 Eyes of flesh hast Thou? As man seeth — seest Thou?
Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?
5 As the days of man [are] Thy days? Thy years as the days of a man?
[Are] thy days as the days of man? [are] thy years as man's days,
6 That Thou inquirest for mine iniquity, And for my sin seekest?
That thou inquirest after my iniquity, and searchest after my sin?
7 For Thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is no deliverer from Thy hand.
Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and [there is] none that can deliver out of thy hand.
8 Thy hands have taken pains about me, And they make me together round about, And Thou swallowest me up!
Thy hands have made me and fashioned me in all my parts; yet thou dost destroy me.
9 Remember, I pray Thee, That as clay Thou hast made me, And unto dust Thou dost bring me back.
Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?
10 Dost Thou not as milk pour me out? And as cheese curdle me?
Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?
11 Skin and flesh Thou dost put on me, And with bones and sinews dost fence me.
Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.
12 Life and kindness Thou hast done with me. And Thy inspection hath preserved my spirit.
Thou hast granted me life and favor, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
13 And these Thou hast laid up in Thy heart, I have known that this [is] with Thee.
And these [things] hast thou hid in thy heart: I know that this [is] with thee.
14 If I sinned, then Thou hast observed me, And from mine iniquity dost not acquit me,
If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from 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 be wicked, woe to me; and [if] I be righteous, [yet] will I not lift up my head. [I am] full of confusion; therefore see thou my affliction;
16 And it riseth — as a lion Thou huntest me. And Thou turnest back — Thou shewest Thyself wonderful in me.
For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou showest thyself wonderful upon me.
17 Thou renewest Thy witnesses against me, And dost multiply Thine anger with me, Changes and warfare [are] with me.
Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thy indignation upon me; changes and war [are] against me.
18 And why from the womb Hast Thou brought me forth? I expire, and the eye doth not see me.
Why then hast thou brought me forth from the womb? O that I had expired, and no eye had seen me!
19 As I had not been, I am, From the belly to the grave I am brought,
I should have been as though I had not been; I should have 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] not my days few? cease [then], [and] let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
21 Before I go, and return not, Unto a land of darkness and death-shade,
Before I go [whence] I shall not return, [even] to the land of darkness, and the shades of death;
22 A land of obscurity as thick darkness, Death-shade — and no order, And the shining [is] as thick darkness.'
A land of darkness, as darkness [itself]; [and] of the shades of death, without any order, and [where] the light [is] as darkness.