1 ¶ My soul is cut off in my life; therefore, I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

My 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; cause me to understand why thou dost contend with me.

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 should oppress, that thou should reject the work of thine hands and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

Is 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? Dost thou see as man sees?

Hast thou eyes of flesh? Or seest thou as man seeth?

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

Are thy days as the days of man, Or thy years as man's days,

6 t hat thou dost enquire after my iniquity and search after my sin?

That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, And searchest after my sin,

7 T hou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is no one that can deliver out of thy hand.

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

8 ¶ Thine hands have formed me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.

Thy hands have framed me and fashioned me Together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.

9 R emember now that thou hast formed me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?

Remember, 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?

Hast thou not poured me out as milk, And curdled me like cheese?

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

Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews.

12 T hou hast granted me life and mercy, and thy visitation has kept my spirit.

Thou hast granted me life and lovingkindness; And thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.

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

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

14 ¶ If I sinned, wilt thou mark me and not cleanse me from my iniquity?

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

15 I f I am wicked, woe unto me; and if I am righteous, I will not lift up my head, being full of dishonour and of seeing my affliction.

If 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 thou dost increase. Thou dost hunt me as a fierce lion; turning and doing marvels in me.

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

17 T hou dost renew thy plagues against me and increase thine indignation upon me, bringing up armies against me.

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

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

Wherefore 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.

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,

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

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

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

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

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