1it grieveth my soul to live. Nevertheless, now will I put forth my words: I will speak out of the very heaviness of my soul,
2and will say unto God: O do not condemn me: but shew me the cause, wherefore thou judgest me on this manner.
3Thinkest thou it well done, to oppress me, to cast me off (being a work of thine hands) and to maintain the counsel of the ungodly?
4Hast thou fleshly eyes then, or doest thou look as a man looketh?
5Are thy days as the days of man, and thy years as man's years?
6That thou makest such inquisition for my wickedness, and searchest out my sin?
7Whereas (notwithstanding) thou knowest that I am no wicked person, and that there is no man able to deliver me out of thine hand.
8Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me altogether round about, wilt thou then destroy me suddenly?
9O remember (I beseek thee) how that thou madest me of the mould of the earth, and shalt bring me to earth again.
10Hast thou not milked me, as it were milk: and turned me to curdles like cheese?
11Thou hast covered me with skin and flesh, and joined me together with bones and sinews.
12Thou hast granted me life, and done me good: and the diligent heed that thou tookest upon me, hath preserved my spirit.
13Though thou hidest these things in thine heart, yet am I sure, that thou rememberest them all.
14Wherefore didst thou keep me, when I sinned, and hast not cleansed me from mine offense?
15If I do wickedly, woe is me therefore: If I be righteous, yet dare I not lift up my head: so full am I of confusion, and see mine own misery.
16Thou huntest me out (being in heaviness) as it were a Lion, and troublest me out of measure.
17Thou bringest fresh witnesses against me, thy wrath increasest thou upon me, very many are the plagues that I am in.
18Wherefore hast thou brought me out of my mother's womb? O that I had perished, and that no eye had seen me.
19If they had carried me to my grave, as soon as I was born, then should I be now, as though I had never been.
20Shall not my short life come so soon to an end? O hold thee from me, let me alone, that I may ease myself a little
21afore I go thither, from whence I shall not turn again. Namely, to that land of darkness and shadow of death:
22yea into that dark cloudy land and deadly shadow, where as is no order, but terrible fear as in the darkness.