"Instruct me, and I'll remain silent. Help me understand where I've gone astray.

Now be willing to face me, and I won't lie to your face.

Repent! Let there be no injustice; Change your ways! My vindication is at stake.

I'm like a servant who longs for the shade, like a hired laborer who is looking for his wages.

Truly I've been allotted months of emptiness; nights of trouble have been appointed for me.

My skin is covered with worms and clods of dirt; my skin becomes rough and then breaks out afresh.

My days pass as swiftly as a hand-loom; they come to their conclusion without hope.

Remember that my life is a breath; my eyes won't go back to seeing good things.

The eyes of the one who sees me won't see me anymore; your eyes will look for me but I won't be around!

"In addition, I won't keep my opinion to myself; I'll speak from my distressed spirit; I'll complain with my bitter soul.

Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that you keep watching me?

For I've said, "My bed will comfort me; my couch will ease my burdens while I complain.'

But then you scared me with dreams; you terrified me with visions.

I hate the thought of living forever! Leave me alone, because my days are pointless."

Why won't you look away from me? Why don't you leave me alone so I can swallow my saliva?

So what if I sin? What have I done against you, you observer of humankind? Why have you made me your target? Why burden yourself with me?

Why haven't you pardoned my transgression and taken away my iniquity? Now I'm about to lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I won't be around!"

Your beginning may be small, but later years will be very great.

"Indeed, I'm fully aware that this is so, but how can a person become right with God?

"If he were to pass near me, I wouldn't notice; if he moves by, I wouldn't perceive him.

Even if I'm in the right, I cannot answer him. I can only appeal for mercy.

"Were I to be summoned, and he were to answer me, I wouldn't even believe that he was listening to what I have to say.

For he crushes me with a storm, and keeps on wounding me for no reason.

He won't let me catch my breath; instead, he fills me with bitterness.

Though I'm in the right, my own mouth will condemn me; though I'm blameless, he'll pronounce me as guilty.

"I'm blameless; I don't know myself; I despise my life.

"My days pass faster than a runner; but they pass quickly without seeing anything good.

If I were to say, "Let me forget my complaint,' change the expression on my face, and look cheerful,

then I still dread all of my suffering; I know you still won't acquit me.

"If I wash myself with water from snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,

you'll still drop me into the Pit, and my own clothes will despise me.

He's not a man like me, so that I can answer him, or that we can enter into litigation with one another.

removing his rod from me, and not letting terror of him overwhelm me.

Otherwise, I would speak without being terrified of him, because I'm not like that inside myself."

"I am disgusted with living, so I'm going to talk about my complaint freely. I'll speak out from the bitterness of my soul.

I'll say to God, "Don't condemn me! Let me know why you are fighting me.

""For you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin.

Although you know that I'm not guilty, there's no one to deliver me from you!

Your hands formed and fashioned me, but then you have destroyed me all at once on all sides.

""Please remember that you've made me like clay and you'll return me to dust.

Didn't you pour me out like milk and let me congeal like cheese?

You covered me with skin and flesh, weaving me together with bones and sinews.

You gave life and gracious love to me; your providential care has preserved my spirit.

If I sin, you watch me and won't acquit me for my iniquity.

""Woe to me if I'm guilty! If I'm innocent, I cannot lift my head, because I am filled with disgrace. Look at my affliction!

But if I do lift up my head, you will hunt me like a lion! You will perform miracles in order to fight against me.

""You have brought new witnesses against me, you're even more angry with me you've brought fresh troops to attack me!

So why did you bring me out from the womb? I wish I had died, before anyone had seen me,

My days are so few, aren't they? So leave me alone, then, so I can smile a little

You've said, "My teaching is flawless; I'm clean in God's sight.'

Like you, I also have understanding. I'm not inferior to you; who doesn't know things like this?"

"I'm a laughingstock to my friends, someone who called on God. But then he answered this upright and blameless man, and I have become a laughingstock.

"Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged. Understanding comes with longevity.

What you know, I know, too; I'm not inferior to you.

But I want to talk to the Almighty; and I'm determined to argue my case before God."

"Now listen to my dispute! Pay attention to my arguments.

"Don't talk to me! It's my turn to speak; then whatever happens, happens.

Why shouldn't I bite my flesh or take my life in my hands?

Even though he kills me, I'll continue to hope in him. At least I'll be able to argue my case to his face!

I have this as my salvation: the godless person won't be appearing before him.

Pay attention to what I have to say and listen to my testimony with your own ears."

"Look, now! I've prepared my case for court. I know that I'm going to win.

Who can oppose me? If they do, I'll be silent and die.

Grant me only two things as you deal with me; then I won't hide from you.

Withdraw your hand far from me and keep me from being petrified with terror.

Then call and I'll answer, or let me speak and then you reply to me!"

"How many of my iniquities and sins have you counted? Show me my transgression and sin.

Why do you hide your face and regard me as your enemy?

You've accused me of bitter things; you've caused me to reap the sins of my youth.

You've locked my feet in stocks; you watch all my steps; You've limited where I can walk.

So I'm a man who wears out like something rotten, like a garment that has become moth-eaten."

Indeed, have you opened your eyes on one like this to bring me into a legal fight with you?

"Won't you keep me safe in the afterlife? Conceal me until your anger subsides. Set an appointment for me, then remember me.

If a human being dies, will he live again? I will endure the entire time of my assigned service, until I am changed.

Then you'll certainly count every step I took, but you won't keep an inventory of my sin.

My transgressions would be sealed up in a bag; you would cover over my sins.

"I'll tell you what, listen to me! Let me relate what I've seen,

"I could also talk like you if only you were in my place! Then I would put together an argument against you. I would shake my head at you

and encourage you with what I have to say; my words of comfort would lessen your pain.

"But if I speak, my pain isn't assuaged; if I refrain from speaking, what do I have to lose?"

"God has certainly worn me out; you devastated my entire world.

You've arrested me, making me testify against myself! My leanness rises up to attack me, accusing me to my face.

His anger tears me in his persistent resentment against me; he gnashes his teeth at me. My adversary glares at me.

People gaped at me with mouths wide open; they slap me in their scorn and gather together against me.

God has delivered me over to the ungodly, throwing me into the control of the wicked.

"He tore me apart when I was at ease; grabbing me by my neck, he shook me to pieces then he really made me his target.

His archers surround me, slashing open my kidneys without pity; he pours out my gall on the ground.

Attack follows attack as he breaks through my defenses! He runs over me like a mighty warrior.

"I've even sewn sackcloth directly to my skin; I've buried my strength in the dust.

My face is red from my tears, and dark shadows encircle my eyelids,

even though violence is not my intention, and my prayer is pure."

"Listen, earth! Don't cover my blood, for my outcry has no place to rest.

Even now, behold! I have a witness in heaven, my Advocate is on high.

My friends mock me, while my eyes overflow with tears to God,

"My spirit is crushed, my days are over; it's the grave for me!

Mockers surround me; I cannot stop staring at their hostility all through the night.

Offer, then, some collateral on my behalf. Is there anyone who will be my guarantor?

"He has made me a byword among people; I'm being spit on in the face.

My eyes have grown weak from grief; and my whole body is as thin as a shadow.

My days are passed; my plans have been shattered; along with my heart's desires.