1My soul loathes my life; I will give free rein to my complaint over myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2I will say to God: Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend with me.
3Is it good for you that you should oppress, that you should reject the labor of your hands, yet shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
4Do you have eyes of flesh? Do you see as a mortal sees?
5Are your days like the days of a mortal, or your years like the days of a man,
6that you should seek out my iniquity and search after my sin?
7though it is in your knowledge that I am not guilty, and there is none who delivers from your hand.
8Your hands shaped me and made me, together, all around — and now you swallow me up.
9Remember, please, that you made me like clay, and to dust you will return me.
10Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?
11You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.
12Life and loyal love you granted me, and your care has guarded my spirit.
13Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was with you.
14If I sinned, you would watch me and would not acquit me of my iniquity.
15If I am guilty — woe to me! And if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head, being sated with disgrace and looking on my affliction.
16And should it lift itself up, you hunt me like a lion, and again show yourself wonderful against me.
17You renew your witnesses against me and increase your vexation toward me; changes and an army are with me.
18Why then did you bring me out of the womb? I would have expired, and no eye would have seen me.
19I would have been as though I had never existed, carried from the womb to the grave.
20Are not my days few? Let him cease; let him turn away from me, that I may find a little cheer,
21before I go — and I shall not return — to the land of darkness and deep shadow,
22a land of gloom like darkness, deep shadow and disorder, where light itself is like darkness.
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