1 M y soul hath been weary of my life, I leave off my talking to myself, I speak in the bitterness of my soul.

¶ 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.

2 I say unto God, `Do not condemn me, Let me know why Thou dost strive me.

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; cause me to understand why thou dost contend with me.

3 I s 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?

Is 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?

4 E yes of flesh hast Thou? As man seeth -- seest Thou?

Hast thou eyes of flesh? Dost thou see as man sees?

5 A s the days of man Thy days? Thy years as the days of a man?

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

6 T hat Thou inquirest for mine iniquity, And for my sin seekest?

that thou dost enquire after my iniquity and search after my sin?

7 F or Thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is no deliverer from Thy hand.

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

8 T hy hands have taken pains about me, And they make me together round about, And Thou swallowest me up!

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

9 R emember, I pray Thee, That as clay Thou hast made me, And unto dust Thou dost bring me back.

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

10 D ost Thou not as milk pour me out? And as cheese curdle me?

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

11 S kin and flesh Thou dost put on me, And with bones and sinews dost fence me.

Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh and hast hedged me with bones and sinews.

12 L ife and kindness Thou hast done with me. And Thy inspection hath preserved my spirit.

Thou hast granted me life and mercy, and thy visitation has kept my spirit.

13 A nd these Thou hast laid up in Thy heart, I have known that this with Thee.

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

14 I f I sinned, then Thou hast observed me, And from mine iniquity dost not acquit me,

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

15 I f I have done wickedly -- wo to me, And righteously -- I lift not up my head, Full of shame -- then see my affliction,

If 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.

16 A nd it riseth -- as a lion Thou huntest me. And Thou turnest back -- Thou shewest Thyself wonderful in me.

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

17 T hou renewest Thy witnesses against me, And dost multiply Thine anger with me, Changes and warfare with me.

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

18 A nd why from the womb Hast Thou brought me forth? I expire, and the eye doth not see me.

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

19 A s I had not been, I am, From the belly to the grave I am brought,

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 put from me, And I brighten up 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, and return not, Unto a land of darkness and death-shade,

before I go, to not return, to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;

22 A land of obscurity as thick darkness, Death-shade -- and no order, And the shining as thick darkness.'

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