| 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.` |
