Study Desk

"I loathe my very life;^(a) therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.^(b)

I say to God:^(c) Do not declare me guilty, but tell me what charges^(d) you have against me.^(e)

Does it please you to oppress me,^(f) to spurn the work of your hands,^(g) while you smile on the plans of the wicked?^(h)

Do you have eyes of flesh? Do you see as a mortal sees?⁽ⁱ⁾

Are your days like those of a mortal or your years like those of a strong man,^(j)

that you must search out my faults and probe after my sin^(k)—

though you know that I am not guilty^(l) and that no one can rescue me from your hand?^(m)

"Your hands shaped⁽ⁿ⁾ me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me?^(o)

Remember that you molded me like clay.^(p) Will you now turn me to dust again?^(q)

Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese,

clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together^(r) with bones and sinews?

You gave me life^(s) and showed me kindness,^(t) and in your providence^(u) watched over^(v) my spirit.

"But this is what you concealed in your heart, and I know that this was in your mind:^(w)

If I sinned, you would be watching me^(x) and would not let my offense go unpunished.^(y)

If I am guilty^(z)—woe to me!^(aa) Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head,^(ab) for I am full of shame and drowned in^[a] my affliction.^(ac)

If I hold my head high, you stalk me like a lion^(ad) and again display your awesome power against me.^(ae)

You bring new witnesses against me^(af) and increase your anger toward me;^(ag) your forces come against me wave upon wave.^(ah)

"Why then did you bring me out of the womb?^(ai) I wish I had died before any eye saw me.^(aj)

If only I had never come into being, or had been carried straight from the womb to the grave!^(ak)

Are not my few days^(al) almost over?^(am) Turn away from me^(an) so I can have a moment's joy^(ao)

before I go to the place of no return,^(ap) to the land of gloom and utter darkness,^(aq)

to the land of deepest night, of utter darkness^(ar) and disorder, where even the light is like darkness."^(as)