1: 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 say unto God, 'Do not condemn me, Let me know why Thou dost strive [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? 4: Eyes of flesh hast Thou? As man seeth -- seest Thou? 5: As the days of man [are] Thy days? Thy years as the days of a man? 6: That Thou inquirest for mine iniquity, And for my sin seekest? 7: For Thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is no deliverer from Thy hand. 8: 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 as clay Thou hast made me, And unto dust Thou dost bring me back. 10: Dost Thou not as milk pour me out? And as cheese curdle me? 11: Skin and flesh Thou dost put on me, And with bones and sinews dost fence me. 12: Life and kindness Thou hast done with me. And Thy inspection hath preserved my spirit. 13: And these Thou hast laid up in Thy heart, I have known that this [is] with Thee. 14: If I sinned, then Thou hast observed me, And from mine iniquity dost not acquit me, 15: If I have done wickedly -- wo to me, And righteously -- I lift not up my head, Full of shame -- then see my affliction, 16: And it riseth -- as a lion Thou huntest me. And Thou turnest back -- Thou shewest Thyself wonderful in me. 17: Thou renewest Thy witnesses against me, And dost multiply Thine anger with me, Changes and warfare [are] with me. 18: And why from the womb Hast Thou brought me forth? I expire, and the eye doth not see me. 19: 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 put from me, And I brighten up a little, 21: Before I go, and return not, Unto a land of darkness and death-shade, 22: A land of obscurity as thick darkness, Death-shade -- and no order, And the shining [is] as thick darkness.'
