1 M y soul is weary of my life; I will give free course to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

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

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

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

5 A re thy days as the days of man, Or thy years as man's days,

6 T hat thou inquirest after mine iniquity, And searchest after my sin,

7 A lthough thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is none that can deliver out of thy hand?

8 T hy hands have framed me and fashioned me Together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.

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

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

11 T hou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews.

12 T hou hast granted me life and lovingkindness; And thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.

13 Y et these things thou didst hide in thy heart; I know that this is with thee:

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

15 I f I be wicked, woe unto me; And if I be righteous, yet shall I not lift up my head; Being filled with ignominy, And looking upon mine affliction.

16 A nd if my head exalt itself, thou huntest me as a lion; And again thou showest thyself marvellous upon me.

17 T hou renewest thy witnesses against me, And increasest thine indignation upon me: Changes and warfare are with me.

18 W herefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? I had given up the ghost, 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.

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

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

22 T he land dark as midnight, The land of the shadow of death, without any order, And where the light is as midnight.