1 M y soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

I am weary of my life and loathe it! I will give free expression to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

I will say to God, Do not condemn me! Show me why You contend with me.

3 I s it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

Does it seem good to You that You should oppress, that You should despise and reject the work of Your hands, and favor the schemes of the wicked?

4 H ast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?

Have You eyes of flesh? Do You see as man sees?

5 A re thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man’s days,

Are Your days as the days of man, are Your years as man’s,

6 t hat thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?

That You inquire after my iniquity and search for my sin—

7 T hou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.

Although You know that I am not wicked or guilty and that there is none who can deliver me out of Your hand?

8 T hine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.

Your hands have formed me and made me. Would You turn around and destroy me?

9 R emember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?

Remember, I beseech You, that You have fashioned me as clay. And will You bring me into dust again?

10 H ast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?

Have You not poured me out like milk and curdled me like cheese?

11 T hou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.

You have clothed me with skin and flesh and have knit me together with bones and sinews.

12 T hou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.

You have granted me life and favor, and Your providence has preserved my spirit.

13 A nd these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.

Yet these have You hid in Your heart; I know that this was with You.

14 I f I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

If I sin, then You observe me, and You will not acquit me from my iniquity and guilt.

15 I f I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

If I am wicked, woe unto me! And if I am righteous, yet must I not lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and the sight of my affliction.

16 f or it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.

If I lift myself up, You hunt me like a lion and again show Yourself marvelous upon me.

17 T hou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.

You renew Your witnesses against me and increase Your indignation toward me; I am as if attacked by a troop time after time.

18 W herefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!

Why then did You bring me forth out of the womb? Would that I had perished and no eye had seen me!

19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.

I should have been as though I had not existed; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.

20 A re not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,

Are not my days few? Cease then and let me alone, that I may take a little comfort and cheer up

21 b efore I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death,

22 a land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

The land of sunless gloom as intense darkness, of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as thick darkness.