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 thou dost contend against me.

3Does it seem good to thee to oppress,

to despise the work of thy hands

and favour the designs of the wicked?

4Hast thou eyes of flesh?

Dost thou see as man sees?

5Are thy days as the days of man,

or thy years as man's years,

6that thou dost seek out my iniquity

and search for my sin,

7although thou knowest that I am not guilty,

and there is none to deliver out of thy hand?

8Thy hands fashioned and made me;

and now thou dost turn about and destroy me.10.8 Cn Compare Gk Syr: Heb made me together round about and thou dost destroy me

9Remember that thou hast made me of clay;10.9 Gk: Heb like clay

and wilt thou turn me to dust again?

10Didst thou not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?

11Thou didst clothe me with skin and flesh,

and knit me together with bones and sinews.

12Thou hast granted me life and steadfast love;

and thy care has preserved my spirit.

13Yet these things thou didst hide in thy heart;

I know that this was thy purpose.

14If I sin, thou dost mark me,

and dost 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.

16And if I lift myself up,10.16 Syr: Heb he lifts himself up thou dost hunt me like a lion,

and again work wonders against me;

17thou dost renew thy witnesses against me,

and increase thy vexation toward me;

thou dost bring fresh hosts against me.10.17 Cn Compare Gk: Heb changes and a host are with me

18“Why didst thou 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 brighten up

21before I go whence I shall not 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 as darkness.”