1My soul is weary of my life ; I will give free course to my complaint ; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul . 2I will say unto God, Do not condemn me ; Show me wherefore thou contendest with me . 3Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress , That thou shouldest despise the work of thy hands , And shine upon the counsel of the wicked ? 4Hast thou eyes of flesh ? Or seest thou as man seeth ? 5Are thy days as the days of man , Or thy years as man ’s days , 6That thou inquirest after mine iniquity , And searchest after my sin , 7Although thou knowest that I am not wicked , And there is none that can deliver out of thy hand ?
The Sovereignty of God
8Thy hands have framed me and fashioned me Together round about ; yet thou dost destroy me . 9Remember , I beseech thee , that thou hast fashioned me as clay ; And wilt thou bring me into dust again ? 10Hast thou not poured me out as milk , And curdled me like cheese ? 11Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh , And knit me together with bones and sinews . 12Thou hast granted me life and lovingkindness ; And thy visitation hath preserved my spirit .
Job's Desire for Justice
13Yet these things thou didst hide in thy heart ; I know that this is with thee: 14If I sin , then thou markest me , And thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity . 15If I be wicked , woe unto me ; And if I be righteous , yet shall I not lift up my head ; Being filled with ignominy , And looking upon mine affliction . 16And if my head exalt itself, thou huntest me as a lion ; And again thou showest thyself marvellous upon me . 17Thou renewest thy witnesses against me , And increasest thine indignation upon me : Changes and warfare are with me .
The Fragility of Life
18Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb ? I had given up the ghost , and no eye had seen me . 19I should have been as though I had not been ; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave . 20Are not my days few ? cease then , And let me alone , that I may take comfort a little , 21Before I go whence I shall not return , Even to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death ; 22The land dark as midnight, The land of the shadow of death , without any order , And where the light is as midnight.