^1. «ILOATHE my own life; I will give full vent to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

^2. «I will say to God, " Do not condemn me; Let me know why You contend with me.

^3. "Is it [2] right for You indeed to oppress, To reject the labor of Your hands, And [1] to look favorably on the schemes of the wicked?

^4. "Have You eyes of flesh? Or do You see as a man sees?

^5. "Are Your days as the days of a mortal, Or Your years as man's years,

^6. That You should seek for my guilt And search after my sin?

^7. "According to Your knowledge I am indeed not guilty, Yet there is no deliverance from Your hand.

^8. " Your hands fashioned and made me [3] altogether, And would You destroy me?

^9. "Remember now, that You have made me as clay; And would You turn me into dust again?

^10. "Did You not pour me out like milk And curdle me like cheese;

^11. Clothe me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews?

^12. "You have granted me life and lovingkindness; And Your care has preserved my spirit.

^13. "Yet these things You have concealed in Your heart; I know that this is within You:

^14. If I sin, then You would take note of me, And would not acquit me of my guilt.

^15. "If I am wicked, woe to me! And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head. I am sated with disgrace and [4] conscious of my misery.

^16. "Should my head be lifted up, You would hunt me like a lion; And again You would show Your power against me.

^17. "You renew Your witnesses against me And increase Your anger toward me; [5] Hardship after hardship is with me.

^18. " Why then have You brought me out of the womb? Would that I had died and no eye had seen me!

^19. "I should have been as though I had not been, Carried from womb to tomb.'

^20. «Would He not let my few days alone? [6] Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer

^21. Before I go -- and I shall not return -- To the land of darkness and deep shadow,

^22. The land of utter gloom as darkness itself, Of deep shadow without order, And which shines as the darkness.»