“Why did the knees receive me,
And why the breasts, that I should suck?

“What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is my end, that I should endure?

“For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;
So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.

“I am accounted wicked,
Why then should I toil in vain?

“If I should wash myself with snow
And cleanse my hands with lye,

That You should seek for my guilt
And search after my sin?

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

‘I should have been as though I had not been,
Carried from womb to tomb.’

“Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
And put my life in my hands?

“Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge
And fill himself with the east wind?

“Should he argue with useless talk,
Or with words which are not profitable?

That you should turn your spirit against God
And allow such words to go out of your mouth?

“What is man, that he should be pure,
Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

“As for me, is my complaint to man?
And why should I not be impatient?

‘Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him,
And what would we gain if we entreat Him?’

“Far be it from me that I should declare you right;
Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

“I thought age should speak,
And increased years should teach wisdom.

“Behold, no fear of me should terrify you,
Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.

Should I lie concerning my right?
My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

“If He should determine to do so,
If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,

“For He does not need to consider a man further,
That he should go before God in judgment.

“Remember that you should exalt His work,
Of which men have sung.

“Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?

“Who has given to Me that I should repay him?
Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.