‘[You have] clothed me with skin and flesh,
And knit me together with bones and sinews.

‘You have granted me life and lovingkindness;
And Your providence (divine care, supervision) has preserved my spirit.

‘If I sin, then You would take note and observe me,
And You would not acquit me of my guilt.

‘You renew Your witnesses against me
And increase Your indignation and anger toward me;
Hardship after hardship is with me [attacking me time after time].

Before I go—and I shall not return—
To the land of darkness and the deep shadow [of death],

‘Yet these [present evils] You have hidden in Your heart [since my creation]:
I know that this was within You [in Your purpose and thought].

“Would He not let my few days alone,
Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer

‘Why then did You bring me out of the womb?
Would that I had perished and no eye had seen me!

‘If I am wicked, woe to me [for judgment comes]!
And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.
For I am sated and filled with disgrace and the sight of my misery.

“I am disgusted with my life and loathe it!
I will give free expression to my complaint;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

The [sunless] land of utter gloom as darkness itself,
[The land] of the shadow of death, without order,
And [where] it shines as [thick] darkness.”

“I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me [and declare me guilty]!
Show me why You contend and argue and struggle with me.

‘I should have been as though I had not existed;
[I should have been] carried from the womb to the grave.’

‘Have You not poured me out like milk
And curdled me like cheese?

‘Remember now, that You have made me as clay;
So will You turn me into dust again?

‘Does it indeed seem right to You to oppress,
To despise and reject the work of Your hands,
And to look with favor on the schemes of the wicked?

‘Although You know that I am not guilty or wicked,
Yet there is no one who can rescue me from Your hand.

‘Do You have eyes of flesh?
Do You see as a man sees?

‘Are Your days as the days of a mortal,
Are Your years as man’s years,

That You seek my guilt
And search for my sin?

‘Your hands have formed and made me altogether.
Would You [turn around and] destroy me?

‘Should I lift my head up, You would hunt me like a lion;
And again You would show Your marvelous power against me.