Job: I Loathe My Life

1‘I loathe my life;

I will give free utterance to my complaint;

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

2I will say to God, Do not condemn me;

let me know why you contend against me.

3Does it seem good to you to oppress,

to despise the work of your hands

and favour the schemes of the wicked?

4Do you have eyes of flesh?

Do you see as humans see?

5Are your days like the days of mortals,

or your years like human years,

6that you seek out my iniquity

and search for my sin,

7although you know that I am not guilty,

and there is no one to deliver out of your hand?

8Your hands fashioned and made me;

and now you turn and destroy me.10.8 Cn Compare Gk Syr: Heb made me together all around, and you destroy me

9Remember that you fashioned me like clay;

and will you turn me to dust again?

10Did you not pour me out like milk

and curdle me like cheese?

11You clothed me with skin and flesh,

and knit me together with bones and sinews.

12You have granted me life and steadfast love,

and your care has preserved my spirit.

13Yet these things you hid in your heart;

I know that this was your purpose.

14If I sin, you watch me,

and do not acquit me of my iniquity.

15If I am wicked, woe to me!

If I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head,

for I am filled with disgrace

and look upon my affliction.

16Bold as a lion you hunt me;

you repeat your exploits against me.

17You renew your witnesses against me,

and increase your vexation towards me;

you bring fresh troops against me.10.17 Cn Compare Gk: Heb towards me; changes and a troop are with me

18‘Why did you bring me forth from the womb?

Would that I had died before any eye had seen me,

19and were as though I had not been,

carried from the womb to the grave.

20Are not the days of my life few?10.20 Cn Compare Gk Syr: Heb Are not my days few? Let him cease!

Let me alone, that I may find a little comfort10.20 Heb that I may brighten up a little

21before I go, never to return,

to the land of gloom and deep darkness,

22the land of gloom10.22 Heb gloom as darkness, deep darkness and chaos,

where light is like darkness.’