Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should suck?

Who long for death, but it doesn't come; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

For the thing which I fear comes on me, That which I am afraid of comes to me.

'Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

Isn't their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.'

who does great things that can't be fathomed, marvelous things without number;

so that he sets up on high those who are low, those who mourn are exalted to safety.

He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands can't perform their enterprise.

You shall know that your tent is in peace. You shall visit your fold, and shall miss nothing.

You shall know also that your seed shall be great, Your offspring as the grass of the earth.

"Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances.

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash.

Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

"Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,

even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off.

Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn't spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?

Isn't it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?

My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;

The caravans that travel beside them turn aside. They go up into the waste, and perish.

Do you intend to reprove words, seeing that the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good.

Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?

so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.

What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,

that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?

If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?

"Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?

If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn't believe that he listened to my voice.

"Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away, they see no good,

They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.

I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.

There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.

Is it good to you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and smile on the counsel of the wicked?

that you inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin?

Although you know that I am not wicked, there is no one who can deliver out of your hand.

Remember, I beg you, that you have fashioned me as clay. Will you bring me into dust again?

Yet you hid these things in your heart. I know that this is with you:

Aren't my days few? Cease then. Leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort,

But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you,

that he would show you the secrets of wisdom. For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know?

Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

for you shall forget your misery. You shall remember it as waters that are passed away.

Life shall be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it shall be as the morning.

Who doesn't know that in all these, the hand of the LORD has done this,

Oh that you would be completely silent. Then you would be wise.

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?

"Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.

This also shall be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him.

See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.

though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can't pass;

Look away from him, that he may rest, until he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

"For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.

"Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would keep me secret, until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me.

What do you know, that we do not know? What do you understand, which is not in us?

With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, much elder than your father.

Are the consolations of God too small for you, even the word that is gentle toward you?

That you turn your spirit against God, and let such words go out of your mouth?

What is man, that he should be clean? What is he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

"I will show you, listen to me; that which I have seen I will declare:

the wicked man writhes in pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.

He doesn't believe that he shall return out of darkness. He is waited for by the sword.

He wanders abroad for bread, saying, 'Where is it?' He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?

that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor.

There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his. Sulfur shall be scattered on his habitation.

You have reproached me ten times. You aren't ashamed that you attack me.

If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.

know now that God has subverted me, and has surrounded me with his net.

He has walled up my way so that I can't pass, and has set darkness in my paths.

"Oh that my words were now written. Oh that they were inscribed in a book.

That with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever.

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.

be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment."

"Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.

that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?

That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.

"Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.

There was nothing left that he did not devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.

What is Shaddai, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?'

"How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?

How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?

You say, 'God lays up his iniquity for his children.' Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.

that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, That they are led forth to the day of wrath?

So how can you comfort me with nonsense, seeing that in your answers there remains only falsehood?"

Is it any pleasure to Shaddai, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your ways perfect?

Is it for your piety that he reproves you, that he enters with you into judgment?

or darkness, so that you can not see, and floods of waters cover you.

Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn't see. He walks on the vault of the sky.'

Oh that I knew where I might find him. That I might come even to his seat.

But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.

I haven't gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.

So that they go around naked without clothing. Being hungry, they carry the sheaves.