The Book of Job

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

I will say to God, ’Do not merely condemn me; show me why you accuse me.

Is it good to you that you should oppress me, to despise the work of your hands while you smile on the plans of the wicked?

Do you have eyes of flesh? Do you see like a man sees?

Are your days like the days of mankind or your years like the years of people,

that you inquire after my iniquity and search after my sin,

although you know I am not guilty and there is no one who can rescue me from your hand?

Your hands have framed and fashioned me together round about, yet you are destroying me.

Call to mind, I beg you, that you have fashioned me like clay; will you bring me into dust again?

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

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

You have granted me life and covenant faithfulness; your help has guarded my spirit.

Yet these things you hid in your heart-I know that this is what you were thinking:

That if I sinned, you would notice it; you would not acquit me of my iniquity.

If I am wicked, woe to me; even if I were righteous, I could not lift up my head, since I am filled with disgrace and am looking at my own suffering.

If my head lifts itself, you hunt me down like a lion; once again you show yourself powerful to me.

You bring new witnesses against me and increase your anger against me; you attack me with fresh armies.

Why, then, have you brought me out of the womb? I wish I had given up my spirit and that no eye had ever seen me.

I would have been as though I had never existed; I would have been carried from the womb to the grave.

Are not my days only a few? Stop then, let me alone, so that I may have a little rest

before I go from where I will not return, to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death,

the land that is as dark as midnight, the land of the shadow of death, without any order, where the light is like midnight.’”

“My soul is weary of my life. I will give free course to my complaint. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

I will tell God, ‘Do not condemn me. Show me why you contend with me.

Is it good to you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and smile on the counsel of the wicked?

Do you have eyes of flesh? Or do you see as man sees?

Are your days as the days of mortals, or your years as man’s years,

that you inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin?

Although you know that I am not wicked, there is no one who can deliver out of your hand.

“‘Your hands have framed me and fashioned me altogether, yet you destroy me.

Remember, I beg you, that you have fashioned me as clay. Will you bring me into dust again?

Haven’t you poured me out like milk, and curdled me like cheese?

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

You have granted me life and loving kindness. Your visitation has preserved my spirit.

Yet you hid these things in your heart. I know that this is with you:

if I sin, then you mark me. You will not acquit me from my iniquity.

If I am wicked, woe to me. If I am righteous, I still will not lift up my head, being filled with disgrace, and conscious of my affliction.

If my head is held high, you hunt me like a lion. Again you show yourself powerful to me.

You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your indignation on me. Changes and warfare are with me.

“‘Why, then, have you brought me out of the womb? I wish I had given up the spirit, and no eye had seen me.

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

Aren’t my days few? Stop! Leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort,

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

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